SSSS8 


^SOUVENIR  HISTORY 

OF   THE 

New  England  Southern  Conference 

IN    THREE    VOLUMES 

VOL.   I.    NEW   BEDFORD    DISTRICT 

VOL.   II.   NORWICH  DISTRICT 

VOL.    III.    PROVIDENCE   DISTRICT 

VOL.  I.  NEW  BEDFORD  DISTRICT 

COMPILED    AND    EDITED    BY 

REV.  RENNETTS  C.  MILLER,  S.  T.  B. 

Pastor,    Methodist   Episcopal   Church,    Nantasket,    Mass. 

HISTORICAL    SKETCH  OF  CONFERENCE  BY    REV.   M.  J.   TALHOT,  D.   D. 


IT   CONTAINS   SPECIAL    HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

"OF    THE     DISTRICT,     THE     CAMPMEETING     ASSOCIATIONS,     THE     DISTRICT      EPWORTH 
LEAGUE,   THE. VARIOUS    SOCIAL    UNIONS,    AND    OTHER   ORGANIZATIONS;    HIS- 
TORICAL    SKETCH     OF     EACH    CHURCH,    WITH    OVER    FOUR     HUNDRED 
ENGRAVINGS    OF    CHURCHES,     PARSONAGES,    PASTORS,    PASTORS* 
WIVES,    SUNDAY-SCHOOL     SUPERINTENDENTS,     EPWORTH 
LEAGUE  PRESIDENTS,    PROMINENT    LAYMEN,  ETC. 
OVER    THREE    HUNDRED    PAGES. 


fICTURES    AND    BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THK    SUPERAytfUA  TES,   ETC. 


1897  —  PUBLISHED  —  1897 

WITH  CONFERENCE    CONSENT  AND  APPROVAL,  BY 

REV.   RENNETTS  C..  MILLER, 

NANTASKET,  MASS. 


COPYRIGHT,  1897, 

BY 
REV.   REXNETTS  C.   MILLUK. 


I     DEDICATE     THIS     VOLUME 

Uo  /IDs  /iDotber, 

AS    AN    HUMBLE    TOKEN    OF    MY    HEART-FELT    GRATITUDE    AND    LOVE 

TO     HER     FOR     THOSE     YEARS     WHEN     SHE      TOILED      AND 

SACRIFICED     AND    SUFFERED     THAT     SHE     MIGHT 

OBTAIN    FOR  ME    THE    GREAT    AMBITION 

OF     HER      LIFE A     COLLEGE 

EDUCATION. 


PUBLISHER'S  NOTES. 


The  Publisher,  in  distinction  from  the  Editor,  may  be  allowed  a  few 
words. 

After  much  delay  we  now  send  forth  Volume  I.  to  the  public.  No  one 
in  particular  is  to  blame  for  the  delay.  A  few  delinquent  churches  are 
largely  responsible  for  this  long  waiting.  Our  determination  to  have  each 
church  represented  has  been  finally  accomplished.  Even  with  the  delay 
some  pictures,  etc.,  came  too  late,  and  we  have  had  to  put  them  in  a  miscel- 
laneous group  at  the  close  of  the  volume. 

The  engravings  of  this  work  (except  a  few  loaned  us)  were  made  by  the 
American  Engraving  Co.  of  Boston,  whom  we  are  glad  to  commend  to  our 
people.  Of  course,  all  the  pictures  will  not  appear  equally  good.  Many  of 
the  photos  were  old  and  faded.  In  many  cases  the  pictures  had  to  be  re- 
touched by  an  artist  before  the  engravers  could  use  them. 

Many  extra  features  have  been  added  to  the  original  plan  of  the  work 
which  have  increased  considerably  the  size,  and  consequently  the  cost  of 
the  History.  We  trust  the  pastors  and  laymen  will  show  their  apprecia- 
tion for  these  features  by  renewed  efforts  to  increase  the  sale  of  the  volume 
in  their  respective  churches. 

The  tardiness  in  the  canvass  of  many  of  the  churches  made  it  imprac- 
ticable to  carry  out  our  original  plan  to  publish  only  the  number  of  the  ad- 
vance orders.  We  have  accordingly  issued  a  reasonable-sized  edition,  antici- 
pating the  demand  that  there  would  be  for  the  work.  There  will  be  no 
second  edition  published.  Volumes  II.  and  III.  we  hope  to  have  ready  for 

delivery  in  the  latter  part  of  January. 

R.   C.   M. 


*     INDEX     OF     VOLUME     I. 


THE   CHURCHES. 

Acushnet    7    New   Bedford— Pleasant  St    135 

Barnstable    11    New   Bedford — Seamen's   Bethel    125 

Berkeley,    (Mass) 23    New  Bedford—  Portuguese    139 

Bridgewater    13    North  Dighton   141 

Bourne    19    North    Harwich    208 

Bryantville   16    North  Tisbury  146 

Cataumet    25    North    Truro    148 

Centreville,    (Mass) 156    Orleans    150 

Chatham    29    Osterville    153 

Chilmark   34    Plymouth    159 

Cottage   City 37    Plymouth— Russell's   Mills    163 

Dighton    39    Pocasset   23 

East  Bridgewater    42    Provincetowii— Center    170 

East  Falmouth  45    Provincetown— Centenary    166 

East  Harwich   186    Sagamore    173 

East  Wareham   236    Sandwich     176 

Eastham   47    Somerset    179 

Edgartown    50    South  Carver   182 

Fairhaven    54    South    Harwich    184 

Falmouth    85    South   Middleboro    189 

Fall    River— Brayton 58    South  Somerset    192 

Fall   River— First    64    South    Truro    198 

Fall  River— North    68    South   Yarmouth    202 

Fall  River— St.   Paul's   75    Taunton— Central    207 

Fall   River— Quarry    St    71    Taunton— First    213 

Fall   River— Summerfleld    80    Taunton— Grace    218 

Little   Compton    89    Taunton— Tremont  St   222 

Long   Plain    92    Truro    224 

Marion 94    Vineyard   Haven    228 

Marshfield    97    Wareham   '. 231 

Marston's  Mills   104    Wellfleet   2"8 

Middleboro    107    West   Dennis    243 

Myricks    112    West  Duxbury   101 

Nantucket    114    West  Falmouth   245 

New   Bedford— Allen    St    121    Westport   Point    247 

New   Bedford— County    St 127    Whitman    250 

New   Bedford— Cannonville    126    Woods  Holl    254 

New   Bedford— Fourth   St    131 

SPECIAL  ARTICLES. 

Conference  Home  Missions  XXVII    New  Bedford  District  League   4 

Conference   Indorsement    of    this    Sou-         New  Bedford  Social  Union   118 

venir   History    27?.  Nutting,   Rev.   J.   H.   and   His  Work   ...259 

Cummings,  S.   S.  and  His  Work  262    Poem  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Willitt   33 

East  Greenwich  Academy  XXI    Providence  Deaconess  Home   XXXI 

Editor's    Introduction    IX    Publisher's  Notes    VI 

Everett,  Rev.  T.  J.— Biog.   sketch XLII  Superannuates— Biographical   Sketches. 263 

Evangelists    188  Supernumeraries— Biographical       sketches 

Fall  River  Deaconess  Home  XXXV  263 

Fall    River   Epworth   League    Union....  57    Taunton   Social   Union   204 

Hamlen,  Pres.  G.  M.  and  His  Work 169  Woman's    Home      Missionary     Society 

Historical  Sketch  of  Conference XII  XXIX 

James,   Rev.  J.   H.   and  His  Work   261  Woman's    Foreign   Missionary    Society 

Martha's    Vineyard    Camp-meeting.  .XVII          257 

Martha's  Vineyard   Revival    XXXIX    Yarmouth  Camp-meeting  1 

*— For  a  general  index  of  the  three  volumes  see  close  of  Vol.   III. 


VIII 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


SPECIAL  PICTURES. 


Bishops  of  M.  E.  Church  II 

Blakeslee,  Principal  P.  D XXII 

Cranberry  Scene  on  Cape  Cod  235 

Cummings,  S.  S 262 

Deceased  members  of  our  Conference, 

XV,  XVI.  92,  96,  (F.  Upham  and  Lewis 

Bates)  270,  272 

Deceased  Presiding  Elders  XI 

Dunbar,  W.  M i.204 

East  Greenwich  Academy  Faculty. XXIII 
East  Greenwich  Academy  Students 

XXVI 

Everett,  Rev.  T.  J.— Presiding  Elder 

XLII 

Everett,  Mrs.  T.  J XXIX 

Fall  River  Deaconesses  XXXVII 

Fall  River  Deaconess  Home XXXV 

Flint,  Jno.  D XXXVI 

Gould,  Rev.  Jno.  B XXXIX 

Hamlen,  Pres.  G.  M.  and  wife  169 

James,  Rev.  J.  H 261 

James,  Mrs.  J.  H 258 

Jones,  Rev.  E.  F 188 

King.  G.  W.  and  wife 215 

Lincoln,  C.  H £04 

Local  Preachers UO,  174,  263 

Map  of  Our  Conference  I 

Martha's  Vineyard  Camp-meeting— 50 


years    ago    XVIII,    XIX,    XX 

Martha's  Vineyard  Camp-meeting  Au- 
ditorium     XXI 

Miscellaneous    pictures    271 

Montgomery,   J.   F 204 

Morrison,   Mrs.   W.   V 22 

Nutting,    Rev.   J.    H 260 

Presiding   Elders    273 

Providence    Deaconesses    XXXII 

Providence  Deaconess  Home   XXXI 

Raymond,   R.  F ...119 

Sockanosset  School   for   Boys 260 

Superannuates    and     Supernumeraries 

XI,  XVII,  XXVII,   53,  70,  145 

165,   272. 

Thompson,   F.    L 118 

Tregaskis,   Rev.  Jas 188 

Tregaskis,  Mrs.   Jas 258 

Webster   Home    98 

Yarmouth       Camp-meeting,      Hanover 

Square   3 

Yarmouth    Camp-meeting,    Tabernacle 

(interior)    3 

Yarmouth   Camp-meeting,   Tabernacle, 

(exterior)    237 

Yarmouth      Camp-meeting,      Railroad 

Park    .  ...217 


DISTINGUISHED    METHODIST    MINISTERS  FORMERLY  MEMBERS  OF  OUR 

CONFERENCE. 

Bates,  L.  B 96  McChesney,   Ensign    96 

Binney,   Amos   (deceased)    96  Nutter,    C.   S 46 

Chapman,  J.   A.  M 46  Payne,  Ex.  Pres.  Chas.  H 6 

Canoll  Angelo   ''deceased) 272  ritblado,    C.    B % 

Dorchester,   Daniel 6  Reed.   Pres.   George  E 6 

Gallagher,   Ex. -Pres.   C.    W 46  Stevens,   Abel,    (deceased)    165 

Goodell,   C.   L 46  Taylor,   E.   M 46 

Gracey,    S.    L ..96  Taylor,    E.    T.,    ("Father    Taylor"— de- 
Hamilton,    J.    Benson 272          ceased)    96 

Hatfield,    R.   M.,   (deceased)    96  *— Townsend,   Prof.  L.   T 6 

Haynes,  Emory  J 43  Trafton,   Mark    96 

Hutchinson,   Pres.   B.   W 6  Upham,   Prof.   S.  F 6 

Jordan,   D.  A 48  Whittaker,    N.    T 272 

Kimball,    H.    D 46  worth,    W.  T 46 

Macdonald,    Wm 46 

*— Since  the  earlier  pages  of  Vol.  I  were  printed  we  have  learned  that  Prof. 
Townsend  was  never  a  member  of  our  Conference.  But  has  supplied  some  of  our 
leading  pulpits  while  teaching  in  Boston  University. 


EDITOR'S     INTRODUCTION, 


Believing  that  the  story  of  the  struggles  and  triumphs  of  the 
churches  in  our  Conference  will  send  a  new  impulse  of  holy 
zeal  into  thousands  of  lukewarm  hearts,  and  inspire  renewed  loy- 
alty to  our  church,  I  offer  this  History  to  the  public.  The  discour- 
aged people  in  many  a  church  to-day  can  but  gain  new  faith  in  God, 
and  take  fresh  courage  in  their  heroic  efforts  as  they  read  of  the 
wonderful  way  God  has  led  many  other  churches  out  of  bondage. 
The  skeptic  will  find  not  a  few  interesting  questions  arising  in  the 
story  of  the  churches  that  will  be  difficult  for  him  to  answer.  The 
believer  in  prayer,  faith,  and  God's  over-ruling  providence  will  find 
much  to  cheer  and  comfort  him. 

The  grand  possibilities  of  our  village  and  country  churches  will 
find  many  striking  confirmations  in  these  pages.  Thus  one  village 
church  (North  Dighton)  alone  has  furnished  five  ministers,  one  of 
whom  is  the  distinguished  Methodist  educator  and  divine,  Charles  H. 
Payne,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

This  History  calls  attention  anew  (as  many  a  pastor  has  found  in 
searching  for  historical  data)  to  the  very  important  Disciplinary  ques- 
tion, "Are  the  records  properly  kept?"  Many  cases  have  come  under 
my  observation  where  great  and  important  church  projects  have  been 
carried  out,  but  not  a  line  can  be  found  in  the  church  records  concern- 
ing them.  Doubtless  many  a  pastor  will  look  in  vain  for  some  refer- 
ence to  a  successful  work  done  in  a  former  charge  —  simply  because 
the  present  pastor  in  preparing  the  historical  sketch  for  this  work 
found  nothing  on  the  records  to  indicate  such  a  work. 

The  pictures  of  "distinguished  Methodist  ministers  formerly  mem- 
bers of  our  Conference"  will  be  an  interesting  feature.  More  will  ap- 
pear in  Volumes  II.  and  III.  We  doubt  if  there  is  another  such  a 
Conference  in  Methodism  that  has  furnished  other  Conferences  with 
so  many  of  their  ablest  ministers. 

In  this  volume  I  have  given  also  a  part  of  the  pictures  of  the 
deceased  members  of  our  Conference.  The  pictures  of  as  many  others, 
as  can  be  secured,  will  be  published  in  Volumes  II.  and  III.  I 
ask  for  assistance  from  all  our  friends  in  securing  the  pictures  of 
all  the  deceased  members  of  the  Conference.  As  the  countless  friends 
and  spiritual  children  of  these  heroes  of  earlier  days  look  upon  their 
faces  in  these  pages,  doubtless  many  tender  and  sacred  memories  will 
be  revived.  If  some  lukewarm,  an  d,  perhaps,  back-slidden  souls, 

"Seeing  shall  take  heart  again," 


X  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

I  shall  feel  that  I  have  not  spent,  i  n   vain,   the  many  precious   hours 
upon  this  History. 

The  biographies  of  the  veterans  (pp.  264-70)  are  very  interesting. 
They  deserve  more  recognition.  After  much  correspondence  for  data 
the  sketches  herein  given  were  compiled. 

The  most  of  the  historical  sketches  of  the  individual  churches 
have  been  written  by  the  pastors,  but  in  many  cases  the  Editor  has 
made  additions  gathered  from  reliable  sources. 

The  special  articles  are  all  well  written,  and  will  greatly  add  to 
the  value  of  the  work.  The  story  of  the  conversion  of  General  U.  S. 
Grant  at  Cottage  City  camp-meeting  in  1874  will  be  valuable  histori- 
cal data  for  the  coming  biographer  of  the  great  general. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  there  may  have  been  many  great  reviv- 
als within  the  bounds  of  our  Conference  as  noteworthy  as  that  of 
Martha's  Vineyard  in  1853.  But  the  fame  of  this  one  has  long  echoed 
in  the  Conference,  and  it  seemed  especially  fitting  to  have  Rev.  Mr. 
Gould  himself  relate  it  to  us  while  still  living  that  we  may  "tell  it  to 
the  generation  following." 

In  the  interesting  article  on  the  district  Epworth  League  Mrs. 
Douglas  speaks  of  a  very  popular  and  widely-circulated  booklet  is- 
sued by  the  District  League.  The  author's  modesty  forbade  her  say- 
ing that  that  booklet,  "What  Can  We  Do :  A  Handbook  for  Epworth 
Leaguers,"  was  prepared  largely  by  herself. 

Before  closing  these  words  I  want  to  thank  the  many  friends  who 
have  helped,  and  in  various  ways  encouraged  me  in  this  trying  enter- 
prise. Their  kind  words  often  came  when  greatly  needed.  I  am  pro- 
foundly grateful  to  the  pastors  who  have  quite  generally  given  me 
their  "hearty  co-operation"  in  the  preparation  of  the  individual  church 
histories,  and  in  encouraging  the  sale  of  the  work  among  their  people. 
I  am  greatly  indebted  to  many  of  the  older  ministers  in  the  Confer- 
ence for  their  thoughtful  suggestions.  Among  these  I  especially 
prize  the  wise  counsels  of  my  presiding  elder,  Dr.  E.  C.  Bass.  Rev. 
W.  I.  Ward  has  rendered  much  valuable  assistance  in  "proof-reading" 
and  editorial  suggestions.  Last  of  all,  I  want  to  acknowledge  my 
indebtedness  to  my  faithful  wife,  whose  good  judgment  and  abun- 
dant labors  have  contributed  more,  perha(ps,  than  anything  else 
towards  whatever  success  has  attended  the  publication  of  this  Sou- 
venir History. 

Notwithstanding  all  our  carefulness,  many  errors  will  likely  ap- 
pear. But  if  the  public  will  only  apply  the  Golden  Rule  in  its  criti- 
cism I  shall  be  satisfied. 

RENNETTS  C.  MILLER. 

Nantasket,  Mass.,  Dec.  6,  1897. 


>    9   r 

~ 


x    •*• 

35     t/j 

s  S 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  CONFERENCE. 
By  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D. 

By  the  action  of  the  General  Conference,  held  in  1840,  the  Provi- 
dence Conference  was  constituted  of  those  pastoral  charges,  and  the 
ministers  stationed  in  them  for  the  time  being,  which  are  situated 

within  the  present  boundaries  of  the 
New  England  Southern  Conference. 
There  were  then,  as  there  are  now, 
three  Presiding  Elders'  Districts:  the 
Providence,  New  London  and  Sand- 
wich. At  the  first  session,  held  at 
Providence  in  1841,  the  Elders  ap- 
pointed to  preside  over  these  districts 
were:  Providence  District,  B.  Other- 
man;  New  London  District,  A.  U. 
Swinerton;  Sandwich  District,  F.  Up- 
ham.  Messrs.  Otherman,  Swinerton 
and  Upham  had  been  Presiding  Elders 
in  the  New  England  Conference, 
before  the  separation. 

1842,  the  same,  except  that  William 
Livesey  was  appointed  Presiding  El- 
der of  New  London  District. 

1843,  the  districts  were  called  New  Bedford,  Sandwich  and  New 
London,  the  name  of  Providence  District  having  been  discontinued 
and  the  territory  remaining  as  before  defined:  i.  e.,  embracing  the 
eastern  and  northern  portions  of  the  present  New  Bedford  District, 
and  all  of  Rhode  Island.  The  Presiding  Elders  were:  Sandwich 
District,  Frederick  Upham;  New  Bedford  District,  B.  Otheman;  New 
London  District,  Ralph  W.  Allen.  The  name  of  Providence  District 
again  appears  in  1848  with  Thomas  Ely  Presiding  Elder,  the  territory 
remaining  the  same  as  under  the  previous  designation.  After  this 
term  of  service  David  Patten  was  appointed  to  the  district.  Before 
his  four  years  came  to  a  close  he  had  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
a  professorship  in  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  where  he 
undertook  and  accomplished  the  task  of  raising  funds  sufficient  to 
endow  the  institution  and  secure  its  removal  to  Boston,  where  it 
became  the  School  of  Theology  of  Boston  University. 

The  form  and  dimensions  of  the  district  were  practically  un- 
changed until  1869,  the  Presiding  Elders  during  this  interval  being 
Charles  H.  Titus,  George  M.  Carpenter,  Paul  Townsend  and  Samuel 
C.  Brown.  In  the  last  named  year,  Bishop  D.  W.  Clark  presiding,  the 


REV.   M.    J.    TALBOT,    D.   D. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XIII 

Conference  was  divided  into  five  districts,  named  Providence,  New 
Bedford,  Sandwich,  Norwich  and  Danielsonville.  Providence  Dis- 
trict was  constituted  of  Rhode  Island  (except  Washington  County  and 
the  towns  on  the  northern  border  of  the  state)  with  a  few  adjacent 
towns  in  Massachusetts.  This  plan  was  in  existence  but  a  single  year, 
at  the  close  of  which  the  number  of  districts  wras  reduced  to  four, 
Danielsonville  being  eliminated.  After  a  few  years  the  original  num- 
ber was  restored,  M.  J.  Talbot  and  George  W.  Brewster  having 
occupied  the  presiding  eldership  four  years  each  till  1878,  when  D.  A. 
Whedon  was  appointed.  At  the  Conference  of  1879  Bishop  Gilbert 
Haven  made  the  experiment  of  a  new  layout  of  the  territory,  forming 
the  Providence  North  District,  comprising  the  parishes  lying  north 
of  the  great  railways  running  east  and  west  through  the  Conference 
from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  Connecticut  River,  with  exceptional 
stations  south  of  that  line ;  Providence  District,  composed  of  the  parts 
of  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  south  of  the  above  named  boundary, 
with  a  portion  of  Massachusetts;  and  New  Bedford  District. 

This  arrangement  continued  three  years,  D.  A.  Whedon  being 
Presiding  Elder  of  Providence  District  and  M.  J.  Talbot  of  Provi- 
dence North,  the  dividing  line  passing  through  the  city  of  Providence. 
Dr.  Whedon's  term  having  expired  in  1882,  the  form  of  districts  now 
existing  was  adopted,  and  M.  J.  Talbot  was  again  appointed  to  Provi- 
dence District  and  continued  in  that  relation  until  1886,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  D.  A.  Jordan  for  four  years,  and  he  by  S.  O.  Benton, 
the  first  who  has  filled  the  office,  in  this  district,  for  the  continuous 
term  of  six  years. 

DISTRICTS  AND  PRESIDING  ELDERS. 

1840-1842. 
Providence  District: 

Bartholomew  Otheman,  '40,  '41,  '42. 
New  London  District: 

Asa  W.  Swinerton,  '40,  '41. 

William  Livesey,  '42. 
Sandzvich  District: 

Frederick  Upham,  '40,  '41,  '42. 

1843-1847. 
Nezv  Bedford  District: 

Bartholomew  Otheman,  '43. 

Frederick  Upham,  '44,  '45,  '46,  '47. 
New  London  District: 

Ralph  W.  Allen,  '43,  '44,  '45,  '46. 

Erastus  Benton,  '47. 
Sandwich  District: 

Frederick  Upham,  '43. 


XIV  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Bartholomew  Otheman,  '44,  '45,  '46,  '47. 

1848-1868. 
Providence  District: 

Thomas  Ely,  '48,  '49,  '50,  '51. 

David  Patten,  '52,  '53,  '54. 

Charles  H.  Titus,  '55,  '56,  '57,  '58. 

George  M.  Carpenter,  '59,  '60,  '61,  '62. 

Paul  Townsend,  '63,  '64,  '65. 

Samuel  C.  Brown,  '66,  '67,  '68. 
New  London  District: 

Erastus  Benton,  '48,  '49,  '50. 

Bartholomew  Otheman,  '51,  '52,  '53,  '54. 

Levi  Daggett,  Jr.,  '55,  '56. 

Anthony  Palmer,  '57,  '58. 

L.  W.  Blood,  '59,  '60. 

Erastus  Benton,  '61,  '62. 

George  M.  Carpenter,  '63,  '64. 

Pardon  T.  Kenney,  '65,  '66,  '67,  '68. 
•Sandwich  District: 

William  T.  Harlow,  '48,  '49,  '50,  '51. 

Pardon  T.  Kenney,  '52,  '53,  '54,  '55. 

Paul  Townsend,  '56,  '57,  '58,  '59. 

Nathan  .P.  Philbrook,  '60,  '61. 

Pardon  T.  Kenney,  '62,  '63,  '64. 

Thomas  Ely,  '65,  '66,  '67,  '68. 

1869. 
Providence  District: 

S.  C.  Brown. 
Norwich  District: 

Charles  Nason. 
Danielsonville  District  : 

G.  W.  Brewster. 
New  Bedford  District: 

M.  J.  Talbot. 
•Sandwich  District: 

W.  T.  Harlow. 

1870-1877. 
Providence  District: 

Micah  J.  Talbot,  '70,  '71,  '72,  '73. 

George  W.  Brewster,  '74,  '75,  '76,  '77. 
Norwich  District: 

George  W.  Brewster,  '70,  '71,  '72,  '73. 

William  H.  Stetson,  '74,  '75,  '76. 

James  Mather,  '77. 
Pall  River  District: 

Samuel  C.  Brown,  '70,  '71,  '72,  '73. 

William  V.  Morrison,  '74,  '75,  '76,  '77. 
New  Bedford  District: 

William  T.  Harlow,  '70.  '71,  '72. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 

James  Mather,  73,  '74,  '75,  '76. 

William  H.  Stetson,  '77. 

1878. 
Providence  District: 

D.  A.  Whedon. 
Norwich  District: 

James  Mather. 
Neiv  Bedford  District: 

W.  H.  Stetson. 

1879-1881. 
Providence  District: 

D.  A.  Whedon. 
Providence  North  District: 

M.  J.  Talbot. 
New  Bedford  District: 

J.  W.  Willett. 

1882-1897. 
Providence  District: 

Micah  J.  Talbot,  '82,  '83,  '84,  '85. 

Dwight  A.  Jordan,  '86,"  '87,  '88,  '89. 

Stephen  O.  Benton,  '90,  '91,  '92,  '93,  '94,  '95. 

Edward  C.  Bass,  '96,  '97. 
Norwich  District: 

Henry  D.  Robinson,  '82,  '83,  '84,  '85. 

Edward  Edson,  '86,  '87,  '88. 

Eben  Tirrell,  '89,  '90,  '91,  '92,  '93,  '94. 

George  H.  Bates,  '95,  '96,  '97. 
New  Bedford  District: 

John  W.  Willett,  '82. 

William  V.  Morrison,  '83,  '84,  '85,  '86 

Charles  W.  Gallagher,  '87,  '88. 

Walter  Ela,  '89,  '90,  '91,  '92,  '93,  '94. 

•Thomas  J.  Everett,  '95,  '96,  '97. 


XV 


DECEASED    MKMBF.RS    OK    OUR    CONFERENCE. 
N.  GOODRICH.  C.  MORSE.  I.  WASHBURN. 

i843-'gi  i845-'85.  i8i6-'64 

I'lie  dates  indicate  the  years  spent  in  the  ministry. 


B.  A.  CHASE. 

1858-74- 


o    o 
K  ^c- 


u    -     - 


•f,     ™  2°    K  -c 

I  *  ~  *  " 


REV.  W.  V.  MORRISON,  D.  D. 


MARTHA'S   VINEYARD   CAMP-MEETING. 
By.  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison,  D.  D. 

In  August,  1835,  a  few  Methodists 
on  the  Island  and  neighboring  main 
held  a  camp-meeting  in  a  beautiful 
oak  grove  on  Martha's  Vineyard. 
There  were  but  nine  rudely-con- 
structed tents  erected  that  season,  and 
only  a  few  hundred  people  in  attend- 
ance at  the  meeting.  There  were, 
however,  no  such  disturbances  from 
outsiders  as  were  experienced  at  simi- 
lar meetings  on  the  mainland  in  those 
days. 

The  climate  of  the  Vineyard  was 
charming  to  these  worshippers,  as 
the  gentle  breezes  of  summer  reached 
them  from  the  surface  of  the  salt 
water.  The  white  sails  of  numerous  vessels  cheered  their  vision 
as  they  looked  out  on  Vineyard  Sound,  which  was  then,  as  now, 
the  great  roadway  for  commerce  along  the  coast  east  and  west,  and 
where  it  is  said  more  vessels  pass  annually  than  in  any  other  waters  in 
the  world  except  in  the  English  Channel.  The  preaching  was  a  deal 
and  forcible  presentation  of  the  prominent  doctrines  of  Scripture  which 
pertain  to  man's  salvation.  The  Holy  Spirit  enforced  the  truth  and 
great  good  was  accomplished.  This  was  the  forerunner  of  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  series  of  camp-meetings  ever  held  in  America,  and 
which,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  year — 1845 — has  continued  till 
the  present  time.  The  first  years  of  its  history  were  characterized  by 
remarkable  displays  of  Divine  power  among  the  people,  resulting  in 
the  quickening  of  believers  and  the  conversion  of  many  sinners.  The 
natural  attractions  of  the  place,  however,  early  claimed  attention.  Many 
began  to  go  a  week  or  two  before  the  date  fixed  for  the  meeting,  and 
after  the  services  closed  others  remained  for  rest  and  recreation.  The 
number  visiting  the  place  gradually  increased  from  time  to  time  till 
20,000  or  more  have  been  seen  there  in  recent  years.  Small  family 
tents  sprung  up  around  the  large  church  tents,  and  furnished  many 
comforts  hitherto  unknown  to  the  worshippers ;  after  a  few  years  these 
were  replaced  by  beautiful  cottages,  in  which  the  conveniences  of  home 
life  are  enjoyed  from  two  to  four  months  each  season.  As  the  shade 
of  the  old  oaks  began  to  disappear,  a  large  canvas  covering  served  to. 
protect  the  congregations,  and  this  in  1879  gave  way  after  many  years 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


XIX 


of  service  to  the  great  iron  Tabernacle  which  now  so  admirably  serves 
as  a  place  of  worship.  The  adjacent  grounds  have  been  cleared  up, 
handsomely  laid  out  and  beautifully  ornamented  with  shade  trees,  con- 
crete walks,  grass  plots  and  flower  beds.  Around  this  old  camp- 


CAMP  MEETING  SCENES  FIFTY  YEARS  AGO. 

ground  Cottage  City  has  grown  up,  with  superb  transportation  accom- 
modations, fine  residences,  large  hotels,  numerous  attractions  and  con- 
veniences, furnishing  one  of  the  most  desirable  watering  places  on  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

This  history,  however,  would  not  be  complete  without  brief  refer- 
ence to  a  few  visits  made  by  men  eminent  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation.  In  1862  Governor  Andrew,  the  great  war  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts, visited  the  meeting.  His  coming  was  the  occasion  of  an  im- 
mense gathering  at  Cottage  City.  The  audience  assembled  for  the 
afternoon  was  far  beyond  the  seating  capacity  of  the  place.  After  an 
able  sermon  by  Rev.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  His  Excellency  being  previ- 
ously invited,  followed  in  an  address  of  masterly  eloquence  occupying 
an  hour  and  a  quarter.  The  historian  of  that  occasion  says:  "He  took  a 
broad  view  of  the  present  state  of  the  country,  and  the  history  of  our 
liberties.  He  spoke  especially  of  slavery  as  the  cause  of  our  troubles, 
which  he  believed  it  was  the  design  of  God  to  destroy  before  giving 
us  peace,  and  urged  it  as  a  religious  duty  to  hasten  to  the  rescue." 
His  address  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  people,  and  his  senti- 
ments cheered  again  and  again  by  Amens  from  the  audience. 

In  1874  President  U.  S.  Grant  and  party,  including  his  wife, 
visited  the  meeting.  Sunday  was  a  great  day;  many  thousands  had 
arrived  from  the  cities  on  the  main.  General  Grant  and  most  of  his 
party  were  seated  on  the  preacher's  stand ;  there  were  also  present  more 
than  one  hundred  ministers,  and  an  immense  audience  vastly  beyond 
the  seating  capacity  of  the  auditorium.  The  morning  sermon  was  by 


XX  SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 

Bishop  Gilbert  Haven,  D.  D. ;  text:  Joel  iii,  14:  "Multitudes,  multi- 
tudes, in  the  valley  of  decision."  It  was  one  of  the  greatest  sermons 
of  his  life.  The  Holy  Spirit  enforced  the  truth  as  he  uttered  it,  and 
the  thronging-  thousands  were  profoundly  stirred.  The  sermon  was 


CAMP  MEETING  SCENES  FIFTY  YEARS  AGO. 

followed  by  a  prayer  service;  hundreds  knelt  in  fervent  supplication, 
every  heart  in  the  vast  multitude  was  moved  by  the  power  of  God. 
General  Grant  sat  in  the  midst,  in  appearance  solemn  and  thoughtful. 
Being  near  him,  I  said  to  him:  "General,  you  have  commanded  armies 
and  they  obeyed  you;  there  is  One  above  us  all  who  claims  your  ser- 
vice, will  you  not  bow  with  us?"  After  a  moment's  waiting  he  replied: 
"Thank  you,"  and  bowed  his  head.  Following  this  service,  a  season 
of  prayer,  with  his  approval,  was  held  by  a  few  friends  at  the  cottage 
where  he  and  his  wife  were  stopping.  After  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  25,  1885,  in  a  paper  written  by  one  of  his  former  pastors  at  the 
Metropolitan  Church  in  Washington,  and  who  was  present  on  the  oc- 
casion above  described,  expresses  the  belief  that  General  Grant  entered 
into  peace  with  God  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  that  through  the  later 
years  of  his  life  and  severe  illness,  he  was  supported  by  the  well- 
grounded  hope  of  a  blissful  immortality. 

At  this  writing  the  sixty-second  camp-meeting  here  is  in  success- 
ful progress,  with  services  well  attended,  spiritual  and  helpful.  Al- 
though the  revival  type  of  the  services  has  somewhat  changed,  yet 
no  one  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  meeting  can  call  in  question 
its  continued  usefulness. 

The  Association  was  incorporated  for  religious  purposes,  and  has 
steadily  adhered  to  this  end  in  all  its  endeavors.  The  following  are  its 
officers,  many  of  whom  have  served  in  their  positions  with  great  fidelity 
for  more  than  a  score  of  years: 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


XXI 


President— Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D. 

Vice-President— Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  D.  D. 

Treasurer — E.  G.  Eldridge. 

Secretary — Eli  H.  Howard. 

Directors— Rev.  S.  F.  Upham,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Willett,  J.  D. 


THE  PRESENT  AUDITORIUM. 


Flint,  A.  J.  Nickerson,  Jacob  Burt,  A.  J.  Manchester,  Rev.  W.  V. 
Morrison,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  B.  Gould,  Caleb  L.  Ellis,  Robert  C.  Brown, 
Cyrus  Washburn,  E.  T.  Sampson,  Rev.  A.  W.  Kingsley,  Rev.  F.  P. 
Parkin,  Z.  L.  Bicknell,  E.  G.  Eldridge,  S.  H.  Bailey,  L.  B.  West. 


EAST  GREENWICH  ACADEMY. 

This  institution  was  established  in  its  present  location  in  East 
Greenwich  in  the  year  1802,  as  the  Kent  Academy.  It  was  the  second 
school  of  the  kind  in  the  state,  and  has  continued  to  the  present  time 
without  interruption  for  a  single  year.  From  the  time  of  its  founding 
the  school  continued  under  the  administration  of  the  corporation  until 
its  purchase,  November  9th,  1841,  by  the  Providence  Conference  (now 
New  England  Southern)  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  A  new 
charter  for  the  institution  was  then  obtained  under  the  name  of  "The 
Providence  Conference  Academy."  The  corporate  title  was  afterward 
changed  to  "The  Providence  Conference  Seminary  and  Musical  Insti- 
tute." In  1884  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  stock  company; 
but  four  years  later,  in  1888,  the  stock  was  surrendered  and  the  stock 


XXII 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PRIN.  F.  D.  BLAKESLEE.'D.  D. 


company  as  such  was  abolished.  It  is  now  (1897)  under  the  joint 
control  of  the  New  England  Southern  Conference  and  a  body  of 
able  and  carefully  selected  corporators. 

The  buildings  are  on  an  eminence 
on  the  western  shore  of  Narragansett 
Bay,  and  the  location  is  of  surpassing 
beauty,  presenting  a  view  of  both 
shores  of  the  bay  for  a  distance  of 
twenty  miles  or  more.  From  the 
Academy  building  may  be  seen  with 
the  naked  eye  the  cities  of  Providence, 
Fall  River,  Warren,  Bristol  and  New- 
port. Many  persons  who  have  visited 
Europe  pronounce  the  view  from  the 
institution  equal  to  that  of  the  bay  of 
Naples.  The  Academy  grounds  con- 
tain five  acres,  giving  a  large  campus 
and  a  lawn  beautifully  laid  out  and 
ornamented  with  trees  and  shrubbery. 
In  the  centre  of  these  grounds 
stands  the  Academy  building  proper,  one  of  the  finest  structures  of 
its  kind,  erected  in  1858.  It  contains  a  very  superior  chapel,  commo- 
dious recitation  rooms,  art  room,  rooms  for  literary  societies,  offices, 
cabinet,  laboratory,  library  and  reading  room.  The  original  building 
was  removed  to  its  present  site  on  Spring  street,  where,  with  some 
modifications,  it  is  still  in  use  for  a  public  school.  The  Boarding  Hall 
was  erected  in  1846,  and  in  1868  it  was  remodeled  and  enlarged  at  a 
cost  of  about  $15,000.  In  the  early  morning  of  August  nth,  1896,  this 
building,  with  its  contents,  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  Since  then  it 
has  been  necessary  to  supplement  the  other  dormitory  accommodations 
by  cottages.  A  new  one  of  eighteen  rooms  and  all  modern  con- 
veniences was  opened  to  students  September  14,  1897.  This  fronts 
on  Church  Street.  An  elegant  new  dining-room  and  kitchen  have  been 
provided  in  the  basement  of  the  Academy  building.  The  present  ar- 
rangement, with  better  rooms  and  new  furniture,  gives  more  com- 
fortable quarters  than  those  in  the  burned  structure.  The  third  build- 
ing, a  private  residence,  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  Academy 
grounds,  now  known  as  the  Winsor  House,  and  used  as  a  dormitory 
by  teachers  and  students,  was  purchased  by  the  institution  in  1856. 

Across  the  street  from  the  Boarding  Hall  is  the  Principal's  resi- 
dence, acquired  in  1888,  with  convenient  and  elegant  parlors  for  use 
in  the  social  life  of  the  school.  All  these  buildings  are  heated  with 
steam  and  lighted  by  electricity. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


XXIII 


FACULTY   OP   EAST   GREENWICH   ACADEMY. 

The  design  of  the  school  is  to  furnish  the  best  possible  facilities 
for  a  thorough  culture,  under  religious  influences,  in  all  departments 
of  academic  instruction.  The  institution  has  a  library;  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  school  have  access  also  to  the  excellent  free  library  of  the 
town,  of  which  the  Principal  is  president,  a  few  rods  distant  from  the 
Academy  grounds.  The  geological  and  mineralogical  cabinet  em- 
braces about  three  thousand  specimens,  and  is  rarely  surpassed  in 
variety  and  completeness.  It  has  recently  been  completely  reor- 
ganized. The  specimens  were  all  newly  labelled  and  arranged  under 
the  direction  of  a  Russian  expert,  for  practical  use  in  the  classes  of 
geology,  mineralogy,  etc.  A  number  of  fine  specimens  of  silver  and 
gold  ore  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  over  fifty  typical  specimens  of 
valuable  minerals,  fossil  remains  and  geological  formations  from  Kan- 
sas and  various  marbles  from  New  England,  are  among  recent 
accessions. 

The  institution  has  a  good  philosophical  and  chemical  apparatus; 
a  superior  stereopticon;  a  set  of  English  astronomical  slides,  showing 
the  various  real  and  apparent  motions  of  the  heavenly  bodies;  a  fine 
collection  of  Levy's  lantern  views;  an  electric  machine,  with  a  twenty- 
four  inch  plate;  Wig-hitman's  gasometers,  and  a  new  compound  micro- 
scope. 

The  "Philognothian"  and  the  "Adelphian"  societies  of  gentlemen, 
and  the  "Aletheon,"  a  society  of  ladies,  hold  stated  meetings  for  dis- 
cussions and  other  literary  exercises. 


XXIV  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

A  large  and  well-conducted  reading  room  is  supplied  with  the 
most  valuable  and  popular  papers  and  periodicals  from  various  por- 
tions of  the  country. 

The  first  conservatory  of  music  in  America  was  opened  here  in 
1859  by  the  late  Eben  Tourjee,  director  of  the  New  England  Conser- 
vatory of  Music,  Boston.  No  academy  in  the  country  has  been  more 
widely  celebrated  for  the  superiority  of  its  musical  department.  Pupils 
are  here  placed  under  the  same  systematic  drill  and  receive  for  the 
most  part  the  same  studies  which  would  be  given  them  in  the  best 
conservatories  of  Europe. 

There  is  also  a  commercial  college  connected  with  the  academy, 
and  a  department  of  stenography  and  typewriting;  also  an  art  depart- 
ment. A  normal  department  was  opened  in  1888,  which  has  trained 
several  now  successful  teachers.  Particular  attention  is  also  paid  to 
elocution.  The  college  preparatory  department  ranks  among  the  first 
in  New  England. 

In  1888  the  institution  received  $43,000  from  the  estate  of  the  late 
Stephen  T.  Olney  of  Providence;  $13,000  of  this  was  used  in  paying  a 
mortgage  debt,  leaving  $30,000  permanent  endowment. 

Following  is  the  list  of  principals  of  the  institution  since  it  was 
founded: 

Abner  Alden,  A.  M.,  1802-1808;  Josenh  L.  Tillinghast,  A.  M., 
1808-1811;  Aaron  Putnam,  A.  M.,  1811-1812;  Ezekiel  Rich.  A.  M., 
1812-1815;  James  Underwood,  A.  M.,  1815-1817;  Rev.  Daniel  Waldo, 
A.  M.,  died  at  the  age  of  104,  1817-1818;  Benjamin  F.  Allen,  A.  M., 
1818-1822;  Nathan  Whiting,  A.  M.,  1822-1823;  Charles  H.  Alden, 
A.  M.,  1823-1825;  Rev.  Ebenezer  Coleman,  A.  M.,  1825-1826;  Chris- 
topher Robinson,  A.  M.,  1826-1829;  Rev.  Henry  Edes,  A.  M.,  1829- 
1831;  Penuel  Corbett,  A.  M.,  1831-1832;  Christopher  Robinson,  A.  M., 
1832-1833;  George  W.  Green,  A.  M.,  1833-1834;  Joseph  Harrington, 
A.  M.,  1834;  Joshua  O.  Coburn,  A.  M.,  1834-1835;  Thomas  P.  Rod- 
man, A.  M.,  1835-1836;  Joshua  O.  Coburn,  A.  M.,  1836-1838;  Rev. 
James  Richardson,  A.  M.,  1838-1839;  Rev.  Daniel  G.  Allen,  1839-1841; 
Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Tefft,  A.  M.,  1841-1842;  Rev.  George  F.  Pool,  A.  B., 
1842-1843;  Rev.  Daniel  G.  Allen,  1843-1844;  George  B.  Cone,  A,  M., 
1844-1847;  Rev.  William  Bagnall,  A.  M.,  1847-1848;  Rev.  Robert 
Allyn,  A.  M.,  1848-1854;  Rev.  George  W.  Quereau,  A.  M.,  1854-1858; 
Rev.  Micah  J.  Talbot,  A.  M.,  1858-1862;  Rev.  Bernice  D.  Ames, 
A.  M.,  1862-1864;  Rev.  James  T.  Edwards,  A.  M.,  1864-1870;  Rev. 
David  H.  Ela,  1871-1873;  Rev.  Francis  D.  Blakeslee,  A.  M.,  1873- 
1884;  Rev.  Oliver  H.  Fernald,  A.  M.,  1884-1885;  Rev.  Orange  W. 
Scott,  1885-1886;  Rev.  Leonard  L.  Beeman,  A.  M.,  1886-1887; 
Francis  D.  Blakeslee,  D.  D..  1887 — present  Principal. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XXV 

FACULTY. 

1897-98. 

Rev.  FRANCIS  D.  BLAKESLEE,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  Principal, 

Syracuse  and  Wesleyan  Universities. 

Greek  and  Roman  History. 


GEORGE  D.  BUSSEY,  A.  B.,  Vice-President. 

Harvard  University. 
Mathematics  and  Natural  Science. 


THERON  C.  STRICKLAND, 
Commercial  Department, 


RUSSELL  B.  MILLER,  A.  M., 

Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 

Greek  and  Latin. 


Mrs.  AUGUSTA  M.  BLAKESLEE,  A.  M.,  Preceptress, 
Syracuse  University. 


Mrs.  ISADORA  B.  BUSSEY. 

New  England  Conservatory. 
Director  of  Music,  Organ  and  Piano. 


Miss  A.  JENNIE  COX, 
Art  Department. 


Mrs.  MARY  A.  STRICKLAND, 
Stenography  and  Typewriting. 


Miss  ANNA  M.  STARBUCK, 
French,  Normal  and  English. 


Miss  ADDIE  E.  ROES, 

Emerson  School  of  Oratory. 

Elocution. 


Miss  ANNE  A.  LATHROP, 

Wellesley  and   RadclifiV  Colleges. 

History  and  English. 


Miss  ANNA  F.  SMITH, 

East  Greenwich  Academy. 

Vocal  Culture  and  Piano. 


Mrs.  LILLIAN  M.  MILLER,  B.  L., 

Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 

German. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XXVII 

Among  the  prominent  alumni  of 
the  Academy  may  be  mentioned  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Willard  F.  Mallalieu,  D.  D.; 
the  Rev.  William  F.  Warren,  D.  D.; 
LL.  D.,  President  of  Boston  Univer- 
sity; the  Rev.  C.  H.  Payne,  D.  D., 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education 
of  'the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church; 
the  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham,  D.  D.,  LL. 
D.,  Professor  in  Drew  Theological 
Seminary;  the  Hon.  Nelson  Aldrich, 
United  States  Senator  from  Rhode 
Island;  Prof.  Alonzo  Williams,  of 
Brown  University,  and  Justices  Mat- 
D.  A.  WHEDON,  D.  D.  teson  and  Tillinghast  of  the  Supreme 

President  Board  of  Trustees.  ^  -    , 

Court  of  the  state. 

The  institution  has  exerted  an  important  influence  in  the  educa- 
tional work  of  the  state,  a  large  proportion  of  its  public  school  teach- 
ers having  been  educated  here.  Its  alumni  are  found  in  prominent 
positions  in  business  life  and  official  stations. 


CONFERENCE  HOME  MISSIONS. 
By  W.  I.  Ward. 

During  the  session  of  1878  the  Conference  organized  the  Confer- 
ence Home  Missionary  Society,  declaring  its  object  to  be  a  more 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  missionary  work  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Conference.  W.  V.  Morrison,  D.  D.,  who  had  earnestly  advocated 
the  movement  and  had  been  largely  influential  in  giving  it  form,  was 
made  first  president  of  the  society.  Fifteen  years  later,  after  the 
wisdom  of  the  general  plan  of  operation  and  the  importance  of  the 
work  had  been  fully  demonstrated,  the  form  of  organization  was 
changed,  and  the  Board  of  Conference  Home  Missions  was  sub- 
stituted for  the  Conference  Home  Missionary  Society. 

The  officers  of  the  Board  are  chosen  annually  by  the  Annual 
Conference.  The  presiding  elders  are  members  ex  offrcio.  There  are 
eighteen  other  members  of  the  board,  three  ministers  and  three  lay- 
men from  each  presiding  elder's  district.  These  are  elected  by  the 
Annual  Conference  in  classes,  each  class  consisting  of  one  minister  and 
one  layman  from  each  district.  One  class  is  elected  each  year  to  serve 
during  a  term  of  three  years. 

The  work  undertaken  by  the  society,  and  now  committed  to  the 
Board,  is  to  provide  and  administer  financial  aid  at  specially  needy 


XXVIII  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

and  deserving  points  within  our  Conference.  By  its  aid  unoccupied 
fields  have  been  entered  and  churches  established  therein.  In  charges 
already  established  it  has  helped  to  acquire  new  church  property  or  to 
improve  the  old.  It  has  come  to  the  relief  of  burdensome  indebted- 
ness and  has  encouraged  the  maintenance  of  existing  churches  in 
communities  which  need  them,  but  are  unable  adequately  to  support 
them.  There  are  in  the  Conference  about  twenty  churches  which  were 
organized  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  home  mission  movement. 
The  erection  or  improvement  of  more  than  thirty  houses  of  worship 
has  been  secured  by  the  co-operation  of  this  organization.  In  various 
ways  over  eighty  churches  have  received  needed  assistance  from  this 
source. 

Funds  to  support  this  work  are  raised  in  several  ways: 

1.  The  Conference  asks  and  expects  each  church  to  take  a  collec- 
tion every  year  for  this  cause. 

2.  There  is  a  "Standing  Subscription  List"  on  which  a  consider- 
able number  of  persons  have  placed  their  names  pledging  themselves 
to  pay  annually,  until  they  give  notice  to  the  contrary,  a  fixed  sum  to 
the  treasurer  of  the  Board,  beside  contributing  to  the  cause  through 
the  regular  channel  of  the  collections  in  the  local  church. 

3.  Several   sums,   aggregating  $2,000,   have   been    given   to  the 
Conference  Trustees  with  instructions  that  the  income  thereof  shall 
be  paid  each  year  to  the  Board. 

The  officers  and  members  of  the  Board  are  as  follows: 

President — R.  S.  Douglas. 

V ice-President — Costello  Lippitt. 

Secretary — W.  I.  Ward. 

Treasurer — J.  S.  Bridgford. 

Ex-Officio  Members — The  Presiding  Elders. 

ADDITIONAL  MEMBERS. 

For  One  Year—R.  D.  Robinson,  S.  O.  Benton,  W.  J.  Yates,  S.  H. 
Bailey,  James  Taylor,  H.  B.  Smith. 

For  Two  Years— R.  B.  Cady,  B.  F.  Simon,  J.  S.  Wadsworth,  J.  W. 
Horton,  W.  E.  Walker,  F.  M.  Messenger. 

For  Three  Years— G.  W.  Hunt,  E.  F.  Clark,  F.  C.  Baker,  J.  D. 
Flint,  David  Gordon,  J.  E.  C.  Farnham. 


MRS.    T.    J.    EVERETT. 


WOMAN'S  HOME  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 
By  Mrs.  T.  J.  Everett. 

The  Woman's  Home  Missionary 
Society  of  the  New  England  South- 
ern Conference  was  organized  in  1883 
at  the  Chestnut  Street  Church,  Provi- 
dence, during  the  session  of  the  An- 
nual Conference.  Mrs.  R.  S.  Rust  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  General  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  of  the  society,  and 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Dunton  of  South  Caro- 
lina, addressed  the  meeting  and  as- 
sisted in  the  organization.  Mrs. 
Joseph  Hollingshead  was  elected 
President;  Mrs.  James  Mather,  Cor- 
responding Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
and  Miss  E.  L.  Manchester,  Record- 
ing Secretary. 

During  the  early  years  of  the  society  these  ladies,  together  with 
a  constantly  increasing  number  of  assistants,  did  valiant  service  in 
establishing  the  society  and  securing  its  recognition  in  the  Conference. 
By  years  of  residence  in  the  South,  Mrs.  Mather  was  providen- 
tially fitted  for  the  work.  She  spared  neither  time,  strength,  nor 
means  in  seeking  to  arouse  the  women  of  the  church  to  the  great 
need  of  missionary  work  among  the  neglected  classes  of  our  own 
country. 

Gradually  hearts  warmed  toward  this  new  department  of  the 
Master's  work,  and  the  first  year  witnessed  the  organization  of  five 
auxiliaries.  During  the  years  since  the  society  has  gained  slowly  but 
steadily.  At  the  last  report  we  had  forty-one  organizations,  with 
a  membership  of  about  nine  hundred  adults  and  two  hundred  and 
fifty  young  people  and  children.  The  cash  receipts  for  all  departments 
of  work  were  about  $3,000.  In  addition  to  this  the  society  has  done 
good  work  in  sending  much  needed  supplies  to  the  frontier. 

For  several  years  the  special  work  of  the  society  was  the  estab- 
lishing of  a  Model  Home  and  Industrial  and  Training  School  at  Cam- 
den,  South  Carolina.  A  legacy  of  $2,000  from  Mrs.  Fannie  O.  Brown- 
ing of  Montville,  Conn.,  greatly  assisted  in  this  work,  and  the  new 
home  was  called  by  her  name. 

This  home  and  school  has  now  for  years  been  doing  a  much 
needed  and  very  successful  work  among  the  colored  young  people 
in  its  vicinity.  Last  year  forty  girls  lived  in  the  home.  The  day 
school  had  an  average  attendance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 


XXX  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

and  the  night  school  thirty-three  pupils.  The  ages  of  the  pupils 
range  from  ten  to  twenty-five.  The  advantages  of  such  an  institu- 
tion are  highly  prized  by  the  people  of  the  community.  Its  current 
expenses  are  more  than  met  by  the  tuition  from  pupils.  The  building 
is  now  being  enlarged  to  provide  for  the  work. 

Other  departments  of  the  society's  work  have  not  been  neglected. 
Through  the  gifts  and  prayers  of  the  women  of  our  Conference,  souls 
have  been  saved  and  lives  brightened  in  far  distant  regions, — among 
the  Negroes,  Indians,  Chinese  and  Alaskans.  Not  only  this,  but  the 
"children  of  the  poor"  are  being  cared  for  at  our  homes  at  York 
and  Tivoli.  The  sinning  and  suffering  ones  of  the  "submerged  tenth" 
in  our  great  cities  are  being  sought  and  ministered  to  by  our  mission- 
aries and  deaconesses,  and  the  strangers  at  our  gates  are  being  wel- 
comed, sheltered  and  guided  into  safe  paths.  In  all  these  blessed 
ministries  we  have  a  share.  May  opportunities  for  future  usefulness 
be  greatly  increased  by  large  accessions  to  its  ranks  of  workers  and 
added  gifts  to  its  treasury.  The  present  officers  of  the  society  are: 

President — Mrs.  T.  J.  Everett. 

Corresponding  Secretary — Mrs.  J.  A.  Southard. 

Recording  Secretary — Mrs.  J.  H.  Allen. 

Treasurer — Mrs.  J.  F.  Cooper. 


THE  DEACONESS    HOME. 


THE  PROVIDENCE  DEACONESS  HOME. 
By  Miss  Margaret  E.  Todd,  Supt. 

The  home  was  opened 
early  in  June,  r8o5,  in  a 
rented  apartment  of 
eight  rooms,  located  at 
167  Courtland  Street. 
The  first  year  the  family 
comprised  Mrs.  Carrie 
Frances  Collins,  Super- 
intendent; Miss  Mary 
Anna  Taggart  and  Miss 
Margaret  Lucy  Eckley, 
visiting  Deaconesses, 
from  the  Chicago  Train- 
ing School.  This  year 
the  Deaconesses  served 
St.  Paul's,  Asbury,  Hope 
Street  and  Tabernacle 

churches.  Near  the  close  of  the  year  Miss  Taggart's  health  required 
her  to  choose  another  field  of  labor,  and  Mrs.  Collins  resigned  as 
Superintendent.  At  the  opening  of  the  second  year  our  members  were 
reinforced  by  arrival  from  the  Chicago  Training  School  of  Miss  Mar- 
garet Etta  Todd  to  serve  as  Superintendent,  and  Miss  Blanche  Leora 
Baker  as  visiting  Deaconess.  This  year  some  service  was  rendered 
to  each  of  the  following  churches,  viz.:  Mathewson  Street,  Chestnut 
Street,  St.  Paul's,  Tabernacle,  Broadway,  Cranston  Street,  Asbury, 
Hope  Street  and  Trinity  churches.  To  obtain  the  best  results  a  Dea- 
coness should  be  assigned  to  but  one  church  at  a  time,  and  that  for  a 
period  of  not  less  than  one  year.  When  establishing  the  work  the 
Board  of  Managers  deemed  it  wise  to  give  to  as  many  churches  as 
possible  a  practical  illustration  of  a  Deaconess's  work;  so,  having  but 
three  Deaconesses,  each  was  assigned  a  broad  field  of  three  churches,  to 
serve  as  she  best  could,  dividing  her  time  among  them.  By  this  plan 
the  work  has  grown  in  favor  with  our  city  Methodists,  as  is  evidenced 
by  the  increased  amounts  pledged  for  the  support  of  the  Home.  In 
November,  1896,  our  first  class  in  kindergarten  was  formed,  con- 
sisting of  twenty-four  little  girls  under  twelve  years  of  age  gathered 
from  the  homes  of  the  poor  visited  by  the  Deaconesses.  Accom- 
panied by  a  piano,  the  children  sing  easy  rhymes  describing  methods 
of  work,  while  the  hands  are  busy  building  fires,  laying  the  table  for 
•dinner,  making  beds  and  performing  many  other  domestic  duties  with 
miniature  furniture.  Such  class  work  as  this  has  been  the  means  of 


XXXII 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


elevating  some  homes.  Almost  any  labor  of  love  a  Deaconess  can 
render  to  one  sick  or  in  trouble  belongs  to  the  work  of  and  is  the 
pleasure  of  a  Deaconess.  Many  testify  to  the  lightening  of  their  cares 
and  the  brightening  of  their  homes  through  the  visits  of  these  Dea- 
coness, who  do  all  "For  Jesus'  Sake." 


THE  PROVIDENCE  DEACONESSES. 

At  the  opening  of  the  third  year  Miss  Isa  Dora  Boardman  came 
from  the  Chicago  Training  School  as  Deaconess  Housekeeper  to  take 
the  place  of  Miss  Frances  Borden  Gardiner,  resigned.  The  first  of 
July,  1897,  the  Home  was  moved  to  a  ten-room  cottage  (see  cut) 
located  at  85  Harrison  Street.  These  premises  have  been  leased  for 
a  term  of  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period,  we  hope  a  home  of 
our  own  will  be  at  command  through  the  generosity  of  one  or 
more  of  our  friends.  Monday  is  visitors'  day,  but  the  Home  is  always 
open  to  its  friends.  Donations  of  cash  and  supplies  for  the  sick  and 
poor  are  always  needed  and  gratefully  received. 

A  BUSY  DAY. 

Breakfast  at  7  o'clock,  then  our  family  devotions.  A  few  house- 
hold duties  to  be  attended  to,  and  in  the  meantime  some  gruel  must 
be  made  for  the  dear  old  lady,  who  is  so  ill.  The  gruel  is  ready,  and 
after  a  walk  of  a  half  a  mile,  the  old  lady's  room  is  reached,  which  is 
up  two  flights  of  stairs  in  an  attic.  She  is  able  to  sit  up  this  morn- 
ing, but  she  must  have  a  fire  built,  the  ashes  carried  out,  some  water 
brought  upstairs,  her  bed  made,  her  room  put  to  rights,  her  hair 
brushed  and  a  visit  to  the  grocery  must  be  made  to  buy  the  needed 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XXXIII 

supplies  for  the  day.  Then,  after  a  chapter  from  God's  Word,  and  a 
prayer  that  He  would  be  with  her  and  comfort  her  during  the  lonely 
hours  that  she  must  be  alone,  the  deaconess  wended  her  way  back  to 
the  Home,  and  on  the  way  she  was  planning  in  her  own  mind  how 
much  she  would  accomplish  before  the  noon  hour.  But  on  her  ar- 
rival at  the  Home,  Mrs.  A.  was  waiting  to  see  her.  Mrs.  A.  called 
in  to  get  a  dress  and  jacket  for  Mary,  a  pair  of  trousers  and  a  cap  for 
Johnnie,  and  a  pair  of  shoes  and  a  coat  for  her  husband,  and  a  "job" 
of  work  for  herself.  A  half  hour  was  spent  in  the  "supply  closet"  and 
most  of  the  needed  articles  found,  and  Mrs.  A.,  with  a  grateful  heart 
and  laden  with  her  bundles,  said  "Good  morning." 

The  deaconess  seated  herself  at  the  office  desk  and  began  to  write, 
but  not  long,  for  the  doorbell  rang  once  more,  and  dear  old  Mrs.  B. 
walked  in  and  inquired  for  "my  deaconess."  She  was  called  from  her 
writing  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  Mrs.  B.,  who  had  come  in  to  make 
an  exchange;  a  few  days  before  she  had  gotten  a  waist  from  our 
"supply  closet"  for  her  daughter,  but  she  thought  it  was  too  gay,  and 
wanted  to  get  one  that  was  more  plain.  Another  visit  to  the  supply 
closet  was  made,  and  a  more  sombre  garment  found,  and  Mrs.  B. 
went  on  her  way. 

That  morning  there  had  come  by  express  from  one  of  the  Ep- 
worth  Leagues  on  the  district,  a  box  of  flowers.  Immediately  after 
dinner,  laden  with  a  basket  of  these  lovely  blossoms,  the  deaconess 
started  for  the  hospital.  Thirty-three  calls  were  made  there,  leaving 
with  each  sufferer  in  the  ward  a  bunch  of  flowers  and  a  word  of  com- 
fort and  cheer  as  best  she  could.  From  the  hospital  a  call  was  made 
on  a  woman  who  had  deeply  interested  the  deaconess.  She  was  a 
woman  who  was  trying  hard  to  live  right,  but  she  lived  in  a  bad 
neighborhood,  and  her  associations  did  not  tend  to  help  her  in  the 
direction  of  being  and  doing  better.  Her  neighbors  had  the  habit 
coming  in  and  making  a  friendly  call  now  and  then,  and  bringing  in  a 
pail  of  beer  just  to  make  things  a  little  more  lively.  The  deaconess 
had  a  faint  suspicion  that  afternoon  that  some  of  the  neighbors  had 
made  Mrs.  M.  a  friendly  call,  so  she  asked  if  she  had  not  been  drink- 
ing beer,  and  in  an  embarrassed  way  she  acknowledged  that  she  had 
taken  "just  a  little."  Poor  woman,  she  has  made  many  an  attempt 
to  do  what  was  right,  but  she  lacks  strength,  is  easily  influenced,  and 
her  bad  associates  tempt  her  and  she  sometimes  yields.  The  deacon- 
ess gave  her  a  very  plain  talk  along  the  line  of  temperance,  and  then 
they  knelt  down  together  in  that  wretched  home  and  asked  God  to 
give  her  strength  and  to  help  her  to  keep  from  evil,  and  Mrs.  M. 
promised  she  would  do  better,  and  the  deaconess  had  faith  in  her  that 
she  would  keep  her  promise. 


XXXIV  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

It  was  now  5.30  P.  M.  and  time  to  return  to  the  little  Home, 
which  never  seemed  sweeter,  after  seeing  so  much  that  was  unpleasant 
and  wretched.  The  afternoon  had  brought  another  box  of  flowers 
from  a  Junior  League  in  Connecticut,  and  as  they  were  so  beautiful 
and  fresh  immediately  there  came  into  the  mind  of  the  deaconess  five 
dear  old  ladies,  whom  she  called  her  "shut  ins,"  and  they  must  have 
some  of  these  flowers.  Supper  was  over  and  evening  prayers  in  the 
little  Home.  The  deaconess  was  somewhat  weary  in  body,  but  the 
flowers  ought  to  be  taken  out  and  prayer  meeting  must  be  attended. 
The  five  bouquets  were  delivered  and  a  word  of  good  cheer  left.  The 
prayer  meeting  was  reached  a  little  late,  but  all  the  more  enjoyable 
for  making  those  few  last  calls. 

BOARD  OF  MANAGERS,  1897-98. 

President,  Henry  A.  Fifield,  78  America  Street;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Frank  H.  Maynard,  420  Angell  Street;  Second  Vice-President, 
Noel  L.  Anthony,  Norwood  Avenue;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Edward  Shaw, 
2d.,  P.  O.  Box  201 ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  M.  Ella  Stewart, 
65  Pitman  Street;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Wm.  Jamison,  101  Corn- 
stock  Avenue;  Managers,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Hancock,  239  Adelaide  Avenue; 
Mrs.  J.  W.  V.  Rich,  375  Blackstone  Street;  Mrs.  H.  S.  Lamson,  17 
Battey  Street;  Mrs.  William  W.  Munroe,  East  Providence;  Mrs. 
G.  N.  Bullock,  378  Carpenter  Street;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Douglass,  135  Brook 
Street;  Rev.  E.  C.  Bass,  D.D.,  90  Harrison  Street;  Rev.  M.  S.  Kauf- 
man, 20  Sackett  Street;  Rev.  W.  S.  Mclntire,  288  Potter's  Avenue; 
Rev.  A.  J.  Coultas,  113  Somerset  Street;  Rev.  J.  M.  Taber,  31  Dart- 
mouth Avenue;  George  W.  Amison,  Olneyville;  Charles  L.  Hazard, 
East  Providence;  Frederick  A.  Horton,  56  Doyle  Avenue;  Josiah  L. 
Webster,  103  Parade  Street. 


FALL  RIVER  DEACONESS  HOME. 
By  Rev.  L.  M.  Flocken. 

In  the  Epistles  of  St.  Paul  a  number  of  female  helpers  are  men- 
tioned. In  Rom.  xvi,  i,  Phoebe  is  referred  to  as  a  "deaconess"  (R.  V. 
Marg.).  This  has  led  many  to  think  that  an  order  of  deaconesses  ex- 
isted in  the  Apostolic  Church,  as  there  undoubtedly  did  a  little  later 


THE   HOME. 

(see  Pliny,  Ep.  ad  Traj.).  The  Apostolical  Constitutions  prescribe 
their  duties  and  give  a  form  of  ordination  (Bk.  viii,  ch.  xix,  20). 
Abundant  evidence  is  found  in  the  writings  of  the  church  Fathers 
that  such  an  order  flourished  in  the  early  centuries  of  our  era.  It  was, 
however,  abrogated  in  France  by  the  Council  of  Orange,  A,  D.  441, 
and  gradually  disappeared  from  the  Latin  Church  about  the  sixth 
century  and  from  the  Greek  about  the  twelfth. 

Attempts  at  restoration  were  made  by  some  of  the  Reformers. 
Deacons,  both  men  and  women,  seem  to  have  been  recognized  by  the 
Puritans  in  the  i6th  century  (see  Neal,  History  of  the  Pur.,  vol.  i, 
ch.  v,  p.  140),  but  the  first  successful  reorganization  of  the  Dea- 
coness work  was  made  by  Pastor  Fliedner,  in  1835,  at  Kaiserwerth, 
Prussia.  He  established  an  infirmary  to  be  served  by  Christian 
women  devoting  their  time  and  faculties  without  pecuniary  emoluments 
or  worldly  honors.  The  movement  met  with  such  success  that  it 
rapidly  spread  to  other  countries. 

The  honor  of  originating  this  work  in  the  M.  E.  Church  belongs 
to  Mrs.  Lucy  R.  Meyer  of  Chicago,  who  has  rightfully  been  styled  the 


XXXVI  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

"Mother  of  the  Deaconess  Movement  in  Methodism."  Under  her 
guiding  hand  the  Chicago  Home  and  Training  School  was  estab- 
lished, and  from  this  beginning  the  movement  has  spread  to  almost 
every  city  in  the  union. 

The  General  Conference  of  1888,  held  in  New  York  City,  officially 
recognized  and  adopted  it  as  an  organic  part  of  the  Church.  The 
duties  of  the  deaconess  as  defined  in  the  Church  Discipline  are:  "To 
minister  to  the  poor,  care  for  the  sick,  provide  for  the  orphan,  comfort 
the  sorrowing,  seek  the  wandering,  save  the  sinning."  No  vow  of 
perpetual  service  is  exacted,  she  may  relinquish  her  work  at  any  time; 
her  service  is  voluntary,  but  she  is  entitled  to  a  suitable  support. 

The  introduction  of  this  noble  work 
into  Fall  River  is  due  to  Mr.  J.  D. 
Flint.  Although  many  others  have 
labored  faithfully  and  contributed  lib- 
erally, the  Home  must  ever  gratefully 
acknowledge  him  as  its  chief  benefac- 
tor and  founder.  He  had  been  favor- 
ably disposed  toward  the  movement 
from  its  inception,  but  his  first  meeting 
with  Mrs.  Meyer  was  at  the  Ecumeni- 
cal Methodist  Conference  held  in 
Washington.  Her  address  deeply  im- 
pressed him,  and  at  its  close  he  re- 
marked to  her  that  he  thought  Fall 

JOHN  D.   FLINT.  RiVCr       WOUld       SOmC       time       haVC       * 

Deaconess  Home. 

For  some  time  he  employed  Miss  Emma  Ross  to  do  similar  work 
as  "city  missionary."  Her  reports  greatly  encouraged  Mr.  Flint,  and 
he  decided  that  a  Deaconess  Home  in  this  city  would  be  an  excellent 
investment  for  the  cause  of  our  Master.  He  made  known  his  purpose 
and  plan  to  his  pastor,  Rev.  A.  J.  Coultas,  to  whom  much  credit  is  due 
for  giving  form  and  direction  to  the  movement.  He  called  a  meeting 
of  the  pastors  and  lay  representatives  of  the  various  M.  E.  churches 
in  the  city  on  December  21,  1892.  After  due  consideration  the  fol- 
lowing persons  signed  an  agreement,  associating  themselves  together 
with  the  intention  of  forming  a  corporation  and  applying  for  a  charter : 
J.  D.  Flint,  William  S.  Green,  A.  J.  Coultas,  John  R.  Butterworth,  Job 
Gardner,  John  G.  Gammons,  John  N.  Wilde,  Walter  Ela,  Warren  A. 
Luce,  Frank  S.  Brooks,  Louis  M.  Flocken,  Iram  N.  Smith,  Lafayette 
Nichols,  A.  J.  Marble,  Charles  E.  Case,  T.  F.  Vickery,  R.  D.  Dyson, 
Daniel  Moore. 

The  corporation  was  legally  formed  and  a  constitution  adopted 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


XXXVII 


January  20,  1893.  It  provides  that  any  M.  E.  church  in  Fall  River 
desiring  may  have  at  least  two  representatives  in  the  membership  of 
the  corporation,  which  holds  a  meeting"  annually  in  June;  and  that 
there  shall  be  a  Board  of  Managers  composed  of  seventeen  members 
besides  the  officers,  holding  regular  meetings  in  January,  April,  June, 
July  and  October. 

On  June  22,  1893,  Mr.  Flint  donated  dividend-paying  mill  stocks 
amounting  to  $10,000  to  the  corporation,  to  be  held  as  a  perpetual 
endowment.  At  a  meeting  held  in  January,  1894,  the  Benjamin 
Covel  estate  on  Second  Street  was  purchased  at  an  expense  of  $8,800. 
About  $1,600  was  raised  and  expended  in  remodeling  and  repairs. 
Mr.  Flint  made  a  proposition  that  if  the  Board  raise  $1,000,  he  would 
see  that  the  balance  was  paid.  This  was  done,  and  on  June  26,  1895, 
the  note  was  liquidated  and  this  magnificent  estate,  now  valued  at 


THE   FALL   RIVER   DEACONESSES. 

Mrs.  K.  M.   Cooper.  Mary   N.    Adams.  Mrs.   Sadie  R.   Griffin. 

Stella  M.  Bounds.  M.  Emma  Ross. 

$15,000,  became   the   property   of  the   Fall   River   Deaconess    Home, 
without  incumbrance. 

The  services  of  Miss  Mary  N.  Adams,  Superintendent,  and  Miss 
Nellie  Olsen,  both  of  the  Chicago  training  school,  had  been  secured, 
as  also  M.  Emma  Ross  of  the  Boston  school,  who  began  their  work 
about  the  first  of  June,  1894.  The  Home  was  formally  opened  with  a 
reception  and  public  exercises  June  27,  the  Rev.  W.  N.  Brodbeck, 
D.  D.,  of  Boston,  delivering  the  address.  In  the  summer  of  1895, 
Miss  Florence  A.  Vaillancourt  and  Miss  Grace  Adams  came  to  the 
Home,  Miss  Lulu  I.  Clifton  taking  the  place  of  the  latter  in  the  fall. 


XXXVIII  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Mrs.  Sadie  R.  Griffin  took  up  the  work  in  1896,  and  Miss  Stella  M. 
Bounds  and  Mrs.  K.  M.  Cooper  in  1897.  Some  of  the  above  have 
gone  elsewhere,  leaving  at  present  a  force  of  five  whose  names  are 
given  below. 

A  Deaconess  Aid  Society  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1894,  which 
as  its  name  indicates,  assists  in  the  support,  furnishing  and  work  of  the 
Home  in  many  ways. 

The  Deaconess  movement  in  this  city,  though  yet  in  its  infancy, 
is  no  longer  an  experiment,  but  an  assured  success.  The  Superin- 
tendent's reports  up  to  about  January  I,  1897,  show  that  21,615  calls 
have  been  made,  of  which  1,563  were  upon  the  sick;  1,980  garments 
have  been  given  away;  baskets  of  food  and  other  articles  of  necessity 
and  comfort  to  the  number  of  1,411  have  been  distributed;  situations 
secured  for  forty-eight  persons;  religious  meetings  have  been  held  in 
hospitals,  almshouses,  and  homes;  1,465  hours  have  been  spent  in 
nursing  the  sick,  and  4,920  hours  spent  at  other  work  in  the  homes 
of  the  needy.  Many  children  have  been  brought  into  the  Sunday 
Schools,  and  neglected  ones  into  our  churches.  Many  touching  inci- 
dents have  been  witnessed,  and  Christian  and  charitable  services  not 
reducible  to  statistics  have  been  rendered  by  these  devoted  women. 
God  is  in  the  movement.  May  He  raise  up  multitudes  who  shall 
"assist  them  in  whatsoever  business  they  have  need  of:  for  they  have 
been  succourers  of  many." 

Present  Deaconesses — Mary  N.  Adams,  Superintendent ;  M.  Emma 
Ross,  Mrs.  Sadie  R.  Griffin,  Stella  M.  Bounds,  Mrs.  Kate  M.  Cooper. 

Present  Board  of  Managers — John  D.  Flint,  President;  Job 
Gardner,  Vice-President;  I.  N.  Smith,  Treasurer;  Rev.  L.  M.  Flocken, 
Secretary  and  Corporation  Clerk. 

Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  H.  MacDonald,  Rev.  H.  A. 
Ridgway,  Rev.  Alexander  Anderson,  Rev.  E.  W.  Eldridge,  John  R. 
Butterworth,  Chas.  E.  Case,  Cora  Hacking,  Margaret  Bury,  Sarah 
E.  Booth,  Nancy  Kershaw,  Mary  N.  Adams,  Mrs.  R.  N.  Allen,  Mrs. 
William  Thorpe,  Mrs.  S.  W.  Gibbs,  Mrs.  George  Whittaker,  Mrs. 
E.  F.  Stafford. 


THE  GREAT  MARTHA'S  VINEYARD  REVIVAL  OF  1853. 
By  Rev.  John  B.  Gould. 

In  1852  I  was  stationed  at  Edgartown.  In  1853  we  commenced  a 
series  of  meetings,  with  remarkable  results.  We  held  services  in  the 
church  one  hundred  nights  in  succession.  No  sermons  were  needed, 
for  there  were  spiritual  giants  there.  It  seemed  that  old  Edgartown 
and  the  whole  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard  were  shaken  by  a  mighty 
gale.  A  series  of  balls  commenced  at  the  same  time.  The  first  pro- 
ceeded a  short  time,  and  there  being  no  interest  they  early  adjourned, 
and  that  same  night  the  leaders  were  at  our  altar.  Their  festivities 
were  ended,  and  nearly  all  of  them  were  soon  converted.  The  aged 
and  the  young  swarmed  to  the  church  every  night.  Through  storm 
and  fair  the  place  was  crowded.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  events 

I  ever  knew  was  the  conversion  of 
Freeman  N.  Blake,  a  professed  in- 
fidel. He  was  principal  of  Dukes 
County  Academy,  and  afterwards  a 
lawyer  and  consul  of  the  United  States 
in  Canada.  He  had  once  heard  me 
preach  on  the  new  birth,  and  went  out 
denouncing  me  and  said  he  would 
never  hear  me  again.  One  terribly 
stormy  night  he  came  in,  sat  a  few 
minutes,  and  then  rose  and  asked  if  he 
might  speak.  Being  requested  to  go 
on,  he  said  he  did  not  believe  in  such 
things  at  all,  but  was  open  to  convic- 
tion, and  if  we  were  right  he  was  ter- 
ribly wrong.  Unasked  he  immediately 
went  forward,  knelt  and  said,  "Pray 

for  me."  During  the  first  prayer  he  fell  prostrate,  and  seemingly  stran- 
gled; he  tore  open  his  collar  and  I  thought  him  dead.  He  was  as  rigid  as 
if  frozen.  In  a  few  moments  his  rigidness  gave  way,  and  being  assisted 
to  his  feet  he  said,  "I  have  learned  the  lesson  of  my  life.  I  have 
seen  the  Savior  on  the  cross  dying  for  me,  and  He  has  saved  me." 
The  whole  audience  were  on  their  feet,  having  gathered  about,  as  they 
supposed,  the  dying  man. 

He  wrote  immediately  to  his  brother  and  family  in  Cambridge, 
narrated  his  experience,  and  begged  them  to  seek  the  Savior.  They 
did  so,  and  still  live  as  Christians  in  Boston.  This  letter  of  four  large 
square  pages  is  now  before  me,  and  reads  like  Paul's  account  of  his 
conversion.  He  obtained  that  letter  again,  and  sent  it  to  me  forty 
years  after  the  event. 


REV.   JOHN  B.  GOULD. 


XL  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

I  was  at  his  funeral,  and  his  record  to  the  last  was  that  of  one  who 
had  turned  many  to  righteousness. 

This  was  but  one  of  the  many  conversions  as  remarkable  as  any 
of  which  I  have  ever  read.  I  have  never  known  a  more  thrilling  his- 
tory than  that  of  these  one  hundred  nights  and  the  results  that  fol- 
lowed. The  detailed  account  would  fill  a  large  volume. 

The  first  fruit  of  that  revival  still  lives  as  an  example  of  steadfast 
devotion  and  a  lifelong  helper  in  every  interest  of  the  society.  She 
came  into  the  church  as  a  child  would  enter  the  father's  house,  having 
no  doubt  of  a  welcome  there,  and  calmly  states  that  she  is  only  waiting 
to  enter  the  house  above.  She  has  ever  been  foremost  in  every  good 
word  and  work. 

The  sister  of  this  devoted  woman  was  a  celebrated  musician,  and 
played  the  organ  at  the  church  for  many  years,  also  writing  superior 
music.  She  became  a  sincere  convert,  and  after  a  devoted  life  became 
the  victim  of  a  malady  that  required  a  difficult  surgical  operation. 
Just  before  starting  for  the  hospital  she  said  to  a  friend,  "Let  us  sing 
one  more  hymn  before  I  go,"  and  seated  at  the  piano  she  sang  with 
her  friend,  "O  for  a  faith  that  will  not  shrink,"  etc.  In  two  days  she 
was  in  Heaven.  No  funeral  in  Edgartown  ever  gathered  so  large  and  so 
afflicted  a  congregation,  and  the  choir  which  had  been  associated  with 
her  for  years  were  overwhelmed  with  grief  as  they  attempted  to  sing 
the  hymn  she  sang  just  before  her  death  on  going  to  the  hospital. 

One  day  at  i  o'clock  I  was  requested  to  visit  a  man  who  was  in 
great  agony.  I  found  him  on  his  knees,  with  his  finger  in  the  Bible  at 
a  chapter  of  Isaiah.  He  had  been  in  that  position  from  7  to  I 
o'clock — a  picture  of  despair.  On  being  asked  to  rise  he  replied: 
"Never!  I  will  never  rise  till  God  converts  my  soul."  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  sprang  to  his  feet,  seized  his  hat  and  hurrying  down  the 
street  entered  every  house  and  told  what  God  had  done  for  him.  His 
wife  was  very  angry  and  would  not  speak  to  him.  But  just  a  week 
later  to  an  hour  I  was  called  to  see  her,  and  she  passed  through  the 
same  experience  as  her  husband,  and  visited  every  house  and  related 
her  wonderful  experience. 

One  of  our  retired  sea  captains  had  opened  a  place  of  entertain- 
ment for  young  men  which  was  well  patronized.  One  night  he  waited 
for  them,  but  no  one  came.  He  stated  that  a  voice  seemed  to  say  to 
him,  "Put  out  your  lights  and  go  and  seek  the  Savior."  He  obeyed, 
and  midway  he  turned  back,  with  the  thought  that  he  had  done  a 
foolish  thing.  Three  times  this  was  repeated,  till  the  lights  were 
extinguished  for  the  last  time.  He  then  hastened  to  the  church  and 
immediately  went  to  the  altar  and  sought  mercy.  Thus  the  work 
went  on  till  all  Edgartown  seemed  to  have  obeyed  the  heavenly  call. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XLI 

Most  of  the  people  and  converts  of  those  one  hundred  nights 
have  passed  away.  Edgar  Baylies,  one  of  the  noblest,  still  lives  in  the 
West.  He  was  a  model  class  leader.  Three  years  ago,  at  a  great  age, 
he  made  his  final  visit  to  Edgartown  and  the  Vineyard  Camp  Ground, 
and  rehearsed  the  experiences  of  those  days  as  the  most  remarkable  of 
his  long  life.  Almost  yearly  I  live  over  the  scene  at  the  graves  of  the 
workers  and  converts  of  that  far  off  time  in  the  Edgartown  Cemetery, 
where  they  wait  the  Resurrection.  Jeremiah  Pease,  Jr.,  was  First 
Lieutenant  in  that  wonderful  campaign,  and  I  tarry  there  a  moment 
to  drop  a  tear  upon  his  grave. 

"And  what  shall  I  say  more,  for  the  time  would  fail  me  to  tell  of 
Gideon  and  Barak,  and  of  Samson,  and  of  Jephthah,  of  David  also, 
and  Samuel,  and  of  the  prophets  who  through  faith  subdued  king- 
doms, wrought  righteousness,  obtained  promises,  and  out  of  weakness 
were  made  strong." 


REV.    T.    J.    EVERETT. 

Presiding  Elder  New  Bedford  District. 

Thomas  J.  Everett  was  born  in  Polk  Co.,  Iowa,  May  30,  1854.  His  parents  were  fanners  and  Methodists. 
The  first  of  these  facts  contributed  to  his  health  of  body,  for  in  his  youth  he  lived  in  the  country.  The  second 
fact  contributed  to  his  health  of  soul,  for  he  was  reared  in  a  home  of  piety  and  prayer.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  entered  Simpson  College,  Indianola,  Iowa,  graduating  at  twenty. 

He  began  preaching  when  nineteen  years  old  and  was  soon  made  a  Junior  preacher  on  a  circuit  having  nine 
appointments.  In  the  fall  of  1874  he  joined  the  Des  M  nines  Conference,  on  trial,  and  was  stationed  at  Central 
Church,  Council  Bluffs.  At  the  end  of  one  year  he  located  in  order  to  enter  the  School  of  Theology,  Boston 
University.  From  this  institution  he  graduated,  in  1878,  the  youngest  member  of  a  class  of  twenty  seven  and 


having  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  commencement  speakers.  The  same  sprini  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sue  F.  Morrison,  Daughter  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Morrison,  of  the  North  Ohio  Conference.  In  April  he  joined 
the  Providence — now  the  New  England  Southern— Conference.  Reserved  two  full-term  pastorates  in  the 
city  of  Providerce  and  has  been  pa.-U  r  of  several  oilier  important  churches  of  the  Conference.  At  St.  Paul's, 
Providence,  a  debt  of  £2600  was  liqudated  and  an  extensive  revival  occurred.  At  Hope  St.,  Providence, 
the  vestries  were  renovated  and  refurnished;  a  pipe  ora an  placed  in  the  auditorium  and  all  indebtedness 
removed  from  the  church  including  a  debt  of  $700  on  current  expenses.  At  Hazardville,  Conn,  a  large  number 
of  young  people  began  the  Christian  life  in  the  regular  services,  and  the  annual  missionary  collection  reached 
the  sum  of  f  looo.  In  1895  he  was  appointed  Presiding 'Elder  of  the  New  Bedford  district  which  embraces 
66  pastoral  charges.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1896. 


THE  YARMOUTH  CAMP-MEETING. 
By  Rev.  T.  J.  Everett. 

The  first  camp-meeting  on  Cape  Cod  (probably  the  first  in  New 
England)  was  held  in  South  Wellfleet,  August,  1819.  "The  power 
of  God  was  displayed  among  the  people  and  glorious  revivals  in 
Provincetown  and  Eastham  followed."  Some  who  attended  out  of 
curiosity  were  arrested  by  the  Holy  Spirit  and  went  home  deeply 
convicted.  At  Eastham,  where  up  to  this  time  no  Methodist  minister 
had  been  allowed  to  work,  such  interest  was  awakened  and  so  many 
conversions  resulted  that  the  Wellfleet  pastor  was  invited  to  preach 
and  labor  among  the  people.  He  reported  at  the  next  Conference 
an  increase  in  the  membership  of  his  charge  of  162,  most  of  whom  were 
Eastham  converts.  The  Eastham  church  was  the  result  of  this 
awakening. 

The  next  year  the  camp-meeting  was  again  held  with  like  results. 
Wilbur  Fiske  was  present  at  this  meeting  and  after  earnest  seeking 
was  "filled  with  the  Spirit."  Rev.  B.  R.  Hoyt  wrote  thus  of  the  meet- 
ing a  few  days  after  its  close:  "Immediately  after  the  tents  were  erected, 
the  work  began  and  continued  to  increase  till  the  meeting  closed.  On 
the  second  day  a  solid  flame  of  divine  love  seemed  to  run  through 
the  encampment.  The  number  of  converts  on  this  occasion  could  not 
be  ascertained." 

The  camp-meeting  was  continued  in  South  Wellfleet  the  next 
two  years.  Then  it  was  removed  to  Bound  Brook  Island,  where  it 
was  held  from  1823-1825.  In  1826  the  encampment  was  at  Truro, 
''where  thousands  heard  the  preached  word  and  dozens  knelt  to  pray." 

The  camp-meeting  was  next  held  at  Eastham,  and  annually  for 
more  than  thirty  years  this  "leafy  temple"  was  the  scene  of  remarkable 
services.  Men  of  power  preached  and  prayed.  Many  notable  con- 
versions occurred.  Here  Father  Taylor,  Bartholomew  Otheman, 
Thomas  Peirce,  Abraham  Merrill,  Lewis  Bates,  Jefferson  Haskell, 
Frederick  Upham  and  many  others  proclaimed  the  Gospel  to  the  mul- 
titudes. 

In  1863  the  location  of  the  meeting  was  again  changed.  Many 
had  come  to  the  Eastham  grounds  on  sailing  vessels.  The  Old  Colony 
Railroad  was  being  built  down  the  Cape  and  was  in  operation  as  far 
as  Yarmouth.  The  people  of  Boston  and  vicinity  who  had  attended 
the  Eastham  meeting  in  large  numbers  desired  a  location  nearer  and 
easier  of  access. 

In  1862  the  Sandwich  District  Stewards'  Meeting  took  the  matter 
into  consideration.  A  meeting  was  called  in  the  Yarmouth  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  on  the  22d  of  December  of  that  year,  at  which 
twenty-seven  ministers  and  laymen  were  present,  with  Pardon  T. 


2  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Kenney,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  District,  in  the  chair.  The  Sandwich 
District  Camp-Meeting  Association  was  organized  for  the  "purpose 
of  camp  and  other  grove  meetings  in  the  town  of  Yarmouth." 

The  name  was  afterwards  changed  to  "The  Yarmouth  Camp- 
meeting  Association."  The  first  officers  were:  Pardon  T.  Kenney, 
President;  Thomas  Milliard  and  Rufus  T.  Thatcher,  Vice-Presidents; 
William  H.  Richards,  Secretary,  and  Obed  Nickerson,  Treasurer. 
From  that  time  the  presidents  of  the  association  have  been  the  pre- 
siding elders  of  the  district.  D.  B.  Lovell  of  Brockton  served  the 
association  as  Treasurer  for  twenty  years,  from  1876  to  1896. 

The  original  plot  of  ground  for  the  camp-meeting  was  purchased 
at  a  cost  of  $600.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  was  expended  in  preparing 
it  for  the  first  meeting,  which  was  held  in  August,  1863.  In  1865 
six  and  one-half  acres  were  added,  and  about  1870  another  addition 
was  purchased,  making  in  all  forty  acres  owned  by  the  association. 
These  grounds  have  been  greatly  improved  and  beautified  from  time 
to  time.  Various  buildings  have  been  erected,  including  the  keeper's 
house  and  Association  building.  This  latter  building  contains  lodging 
rooms,  post-office,  police  headquarters,  Association  Hall,  etc.  Wells 
have  been  put  down,  supplying  the  encampment  with  drinking  water 
of  the  best  quality.  A  beautiful  park  has  been  laid  out  between  the 
railroad  and  the  encampment.  A  commodious  wooden  tabernacle, 
seating  fifteen  hundred,  was  built  in  1890  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,400. 
Altogether  this  camp  ground  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  well- 
appointed  in  New  England.  Some  notable  conversions  have  occurred 
upon  these  grounds  and  thousands  of  people  continue  to  attend  the 
services  held  here  annually.  The  officers  of  the  association  at  the 
present  time  are: 

President — T.  J.  Everett,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Vice-Presidents — W.  P.  Buck,  Provincetown,  Mass. 
G.  N.  Mansell,  Harwich,  Mass. 

Secretary — Olin  E.  Snow,  Provincetown,  Mass. 

Treasurer  and  Agent — Isaiah  Snow,  Truro,  Mass. 


HANOVER    SQUARK,    YARMOUTH    CAMP-GROUND. 


INTERIOR    VIEW    YARMOUTH    TAliERNACI.E. 


NEW  BEDFORD  DISTRICT  LEAGUE. 
By  Mrs.  R.  S.  Douglas. 

In  writing  the  history  of  such  an  organization,  all  must  know 
that  much  that  has  made  it  a  power,  that  has  kept  it  effective,  and 
created  the  influence  that  has  reached  beyond  all  of  our  thought 
already  and  will  continue  to  be  a  power  through  all  time,  and  even 
into  eternity,  must  be  unwritten.  So  this  report  will  be  like  a  frame- 
work, giving  outlines  only,  while  those  who  have  been  workers  here 
will  fill  in  the  spaces  with  pleasant  memories  of  faces,  churches,  and 
events. 

The  first  idea  of  this  District  League  had  birth  in  a  gathering 
held  in  the  Memorial  M.  E.  Church,  Plymouth,  at  which  Leaguers 
from  several  neighboring  churches  were  present.  As  a  result  of 
suggestions  made  at  that  meeting,  Rev.  Walter  S.  Ela,  then  P.  E., 
called  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  the  various  Young  People's 
societies  of  the  district  at  the  Allen  Street  M.  E.  Church,  New  Bed- 
ford, June  nth,  1890.  There  were  present  fifty-four  delegates,  rep- 
resenting twenty-three  leagues,  four  junior  leagues  and  five  Young 
People's  societies,  including  in  all  1,481  members.  Here  the  District 
League  was  organized,  its  constitution  formed,  and  its  officers  elected. 
Rev.  H.  C.  Scripps  was  appointed  president. 

The  next  convention  was  held  October  2ist,  1891,  at  Grace 
Church,  Taunton,  when  one  hundred  delegates,  representing  twenty- 
six  leagues,  were  present.  During  the  year  the  district  lost  one  of  its 
most  interested  and  faithful  workers.  Mr.  Richard  S.  Clark  of  Fall 
River,  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  one  of  the  first  to  conceive 
the  idea  of  the  District  League,  was  suddenly  called  to  present 
his  life's  report  above.  It  is  the  only  death  of  an  active  district  officer 
since  the  organizing  of  the  League. 

From  these  beginnings  the  district  work  has  been  continued. 
Annual  conventions  have  been  held  in  Allen  Street,  County 
Street  and  Pleasant  Street  Churches,  New  Bedford;  First  and 
Grace  Churches,  Taunton;  First  Church,  Fall  River,  and 
Memorial  Church,  Plymouth.  Beside  these  sub-district  gatherings 
have  been  beneficial  to  many  churches  and  leagues.  The  District 
Presidents  have  been  as  follows:  Rev.  H.  C.  Scripps,  Mr.  Robert  T. 
Raymond  of  New  Bedford;  Rev.  William  S.  Davis  (two  years),  Rev. 
B.  F.  Simon  (two  years)  and  Mr.  H.  L.  Johnson  of  Plymouth.  This 
organization,  combining  the  leagues  of  the  District,  each  teaching  and 
receiving,  from  the  others,  has  been  a  power  throughout  the  District. 
It  has  not  only  been  a  bond  that  has  joined  the  several  leagues  to- 
gether, but  it  has  united  them  to  much  of  the  connectional  work  of 
the  denomination.  The  conventions  have  been  practically  helpful, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  5 

and  have  been  broad  in  the  work  represented  by  the  speakers. 
Within  our  boundaries  are  two  Deaconess  Homes — one,  the  gift  of 
Mr.  John  D.  Flint,  in  Fall  River,  the  other  in  Providence — from  both 
of  which  the  Deaconesses  go  forth  to  minister  to  all  in  need  of  their 
sympathy  or  care,  but  to  the  Epworth  Leagues  do  they  owe  much  of 
the  help  that  enables  them  to  carry  on  their  work.  While  much 
loving  assistance  has  been  rendered  to  the  Deaconess'  Home  and 
Hospital  in  Boston,  in  no  district  in  our  Conference  has  the  Epworth 
League  Home  in  Boston  had  warmer  friends.  Other  foreign  and  mis- 
sionary fields  have  been  assisted  by  its  existence,  while  local 
missionary  work,  growth  of  interest  in  literary  culture,  pure  social 
intercourse,  and  above  all  the  prayer  meeting  and  the  interest  in  sal- 
vation of  those  about  us,  have  all  received  an  impetus  and  power  the 
results  of  which  only  eternity  can  reveal. 

In  1892  this  league  issued  a  booklet  called  "What  We  Can  Do. 
A  Handbook  for  Epworth  Leagues."  The  first  edition  was  of  1,500 
copies.  Its  helpfulness  was  so  generally  and  unexpectedly  appre- 
ciated that  in  1893  an  edition  of  2,000  was  published,  which  was  fol- 
lowed in  1895  by  a  third  edition  of  4,000  copies.  Each  edition  was 
revised  and  enlarged.  Recognizing  the  unity  of  work  and  purpose 
manifested  at  Chattanooga  by  the  leagues  of  Canada  and  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  North  and  South,  the  committee  placed  on  the  cover  of  the 
third  edition  the  badges  of  the  different  leagues,  and  in  other  ways 
re-adapted  the  book  to  the  use  of  these  three  divisions  of  leaguers.. 

It  has  been  sold  in  over  thirty  states  of  our  Union,  in  Canada, 
Bermuda,  and  Mexico,  and  has  received  universal  commendation  for 
its  suggestions  and  practical  helpfulness. 

There  are  now  fifty-three  senior  leagues,  with  a  membership  of 
3,25o,-and  seventeen  junior  leagues,  with  a  membership  of  about  700, 
in  our  District. 

While  the  first  excitement  and  enthusiasm  of  league  work  has 
passed,  all  must  realize  that  to-day  in  the  New  Bedford  District  no 
one  organization  within  the  church  is  more  helpful  in  its  power  of 
unifying  the  interests  of  the  churches  of  the  District,  in  bringing  about 
a  pleasant  personal  acquaintance  amongst  the  young  people,  of  awaken- 
ing their  desires  for  helpfulness  to  all  good  causes  than  our  New  Bed-  4; 
ford  District  League. 


EDUCATORS    FORMERLY     MEMBERS    OF    OUR    CONFERENCE. 


DANIEL  DORCHESTER. 
Pres.  GEO.  E.  REED. 
Pres.  B.  W.  HUTCHINSON. 


Prof.  L.  T.  TOWNSBND. 
Ex-Pres.  C.  H.  PAYNE. 
Prof.  SAMUEL  F.  UPHAM. 


Pres.  F.  J.  WAGNER. 
Pres.  B.  P.  RAYMOND. 
Prof.  WILBUR  F.  STEELE 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ACUSHNET,  MASS. 

One  of  the  oldest  Methodist  churches  in  the  District,  and  the  old- 
est in  Bristol  County  is  that  in  Acushnet  village.  Its  founders  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  Society  near  by.  They  were  attracted 
by  the  earnestness  of  manner  and  spiritual  zeal  of  Methodist  preachers 

who  preached  in  this  vicinity  in  at- 
tics and  in  great  kitchens  at  the 
very  opening  of  the  century.  This 
soon  led  them  to  desire  a  Meth- 
odist society,  and  on  the  2d  day  of 
Aug.  1807,  "The  Methodist  Church 
of  Fairhaven  and  New  Bedford" 
was  organized.  The  leading  lay- 
man in  this  movement  was  John 
Hawes,  a  resident  of  the  place  and 
a  master  mariner. 

He  was  led  to  a  Godly  life  by  a 
Methodist     minister     in     a     little 
chapel  in  a  narrow  lane,  London. 
The  minister  whom  he  invited  to 
come  here  to  lead  the  people  up  to 
this    organization    was     Epaphras 
Kibby,  who  was  the  first  stationed 
minister  to  the  society. 

The  original  members  were  John 
Hawes,    Benj.    Dillingham,    Free- 
born    Nye,    Dan'l    Summerton,    Hannah    Summerton,    Jedidah    Has- 
kell,  Meribah  Spooner,  Nancy  Danforth.     When  Mr.  Kibby  closed 
his  labors  here  in  1809  there  were  64  members. 

Captain  Hawes  gave  the  lot 
for  the  first  meeting-house, 
where  the  present  one  stands. 

Edward  Dillingham,  one  of 
the  early  members,  bequeathed 
his  home  to  the  church  for  a 
parsonage,  which  has  been  oc- 
cupied by  the  ministers  for 
many  decades,  but  is  just  now 
being  replaced  by  a  handsome 
new  parsonage. 

The    present    church    edifice          THE  ACUSHNET  PARSONAGE. 

Was    dedicated    during    the    pas-  This  Represents   it  Unfinished. 

torate  of  Richard  Donkersly,  March  9,  1854. 


THE  ACUSHNET  CHURCH. 


8 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


All  the  Methodist  churches  of  the  southern  tier  of  towns  in  Bris- 
tol County  were  offsprings  of  this  society.  The  original  members  of 
those  churches  with  filial  affection  called  this  the  "mother  church." 

Epaphras  Kibby,  to  the  first  members,  was  the  greatest  pastor 
and  indeed  under  his  care  the  church  had  its  greatest  growth  and 
proved  its  right  to  exist  and  its  ability  to  bring  forth  bountiful  fruits. 

No  close  record  is  kept  of  Edward  T.  Taylor's  work  ("Father 
Taylor,"  afterwards  of  Boston  Bethel),  but  no  doubt  even  in  these,  his 
youthful  years,  he  did  a  good  work  for  God. 


REV.    H.  H.   CRITCHLOW. 


MRS.   H.   H.   CRITCHLOW. 


J.  A.  M.  Chapman  and  W.  T.  Worth,  who  have  since  become 
metropolitan  preachers  and  leaders  in  the  Master's  work,  each  began 
their  pastoral  labors  here  with  blessed  results. 

From  1873  to  J8?6  Chas.  E.  Walker  was  in  charge.  Perhaps  the 
greatest  ingathering  of  souls  in  the  church's  history  was  in  these 
years.  Many  who  still  toil  faithfully  in  the  Lord's  vineyard  date  their 
Christian  life  from  that  time. 

In  October,  1877,  C.  L.  Goodell  began  his  ministerial  labors  as  a 
supply.  His  work,  as  well  as  that  of  his  successors,  has  been  uni- 
formly succesful  in  bringing  the  community  nearer  the  perfect  life. 

During  the  pastorate  of  E.  B.  Gurney,  the  audience  room 
was  renovated  and  frescoed,  a  new  pulpit  suit  was  placed  in  the  church 
and  the  floor  was  recarpeted,  etc.,  at  an  expense  of  about  $600,  all  of 
which  was  provided  for  before  the  re-opening. 

Of  those  who  still  abide  among  us  as  beloved  superannuates,  Rev. 
Samuel  Fox,  Rev.  B.  K.  Bosworth  and  Rev.  E.  A.  Lyon  are  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  for  their  efficient  and  faithful  labors.  Rev. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


N.  W.  Jordan,  so  early  called  to  be  with  God,  was  loved  by  all  for  his 
sweet  ministry  of  comfort. 

The  pastors  of  later  years  who  wrought  nobly  and  strengthened 
as  well  as  extended  the  walls  of  Zion,  are  still  waging  a  good  warfare 
and  carrying  the  banners  of  Christ  on  to  victory.  Among  this  num- 
ber is  the  Compiler  and  Editor  of  this  Souvenir  History.  The  people 
of  this  church  remember  with  grateful  hearts  the  years  of  successful 
labor  with  him,  and  the  prosperity  in  all  lines  of  church  work  during 
his  pastorate  with  them. 

During  the  present  pastorate,  Mr.  Lemuel  Dillingham  and  Mrs. 


JNO.   R.   THOMPSON, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


WM.    A.    GURNEY, 
Bpworth  League  President. 


Olive  Washburn  have  been  called  home  at  goodly  age.  Many  of  the 
older  members  are  still  blessing  the  world.  Mrs.  Alice  Stacy  has 
been  a  member  seventy-one  years. 

The  new  parsonage,  of  which  a  cut  appears,  has  been  looked  for- 
ward to  for  many  days,  and  now  will  be  an  honor  to  the  society. 
Rev.  E.  A.  Lyon  found  his  present  wife  here.  This  church  is 
proud  to  name  among  her  spiritual  children,  Rev  W.  I.  Ward,  an 
honored  member  of  our  Conference,  who>  was  converted  here  when 
only  a  boy  and  licensed  to  preach  by  recommendation  from  this  church 
in  March,  1875. 

PASTORS. 

1821-22.   f  Solomon  Sias  (founder 
of  Zion's  Herald) 


Epaphras  Kibby 
Nehemiah  Coye 
Levi  Walker 
Nehemiah  Coye 
(Located  and  supplied.) 
1817-18.     Benj.  R.  Hoyt 
T 818-20.     Shipley  W.  Wilson 


1806-08. 
1809. 
1810. 
1812-16. 


1823.  Edward  T.  Taylor 
(Father  Taylor) 

1824.  Erastus  Otis 

1825.  Leonard  Bennett 

1826.  LaRov  Sunderland 


10 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830. 


Leonard  B.  Griffin 
Robert  Easterbrooks 
Elias  C.  Scott 
Jas.  Porter 


1846.  Dairl  Webb 

1847.  Randall  Mitchell 
1848  49.  Geo.  W.  Wooding 

1850.  Jas.  B.  Weeks 

1851.  Nathan  Paine 
1852-53.  Richard  Donkersly 

1854.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman 

1855.  E.  Franklin  Hinks 

1856.  Philip  Crandon 

1857.  A.  Latham 
1858-59.  B.  L.  Sayer 

1 860-6 1.  W.  T.  Worth 

1862-63.  Samuel   Fox 

1864  Israel  Washburn 

Died  during  year. 

1864.  Thos.  Ely 

1865-66.  E.  H.  Hatfield 

1867-68.  Geo.  W.  Wooding 

1869.  B.  K.  Bosworth 

1870-72.  E.  A.  Lyon 

l873-75-  Chas.  E.  Walker 

1876.  E.  H.  Hatfield 

1877 —  Jos.  E.  Sears 

Resigned  during  year. 

1877-79.  C-  L.  Goodell 

1 880-8 1.  Geo.  M.  Hamlen 

1882.  N.  W.  Jordan 

1883-85.  Edward  Williams 

1886-87.  Chas.  S.  Davis 

1888—  F.  A.  Crafts 

Died  during  year. 

1888-89.  R-  M-  Wilkins 

1890-92.  E.  B.  Gurney 

1893-94.  Rennetts  C.  Miller 

1895.  O.  A.  Farley 

1896—  H.  H.  Critchlow 


HON.  FRANKLYN  HOWLAND. 

1831.  Sam'l  Drake 

1832.  William  Baxter 

1833.  O.  Sperry 
1834-35.  Thomas  Ely 

1836.  *       D.  H.  Bannister 

1837.  Franklin  Fisk 

1838.  Onesiphorus  Robbins 
1839-40.     Lemuel  Harlow 

A  local  supply. 
1841.  Otis  Wilder 

1842-43.     Jos.  Macreading 

1844.  Geo.  Winchester 

1845.  William  Cone 
1846  Hebron  Vincent 

Remained  but  a  few  weeks. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — J.  R.  Allen,  Rev.  E.  A.  Lyon,  M.  S.  Douglass,  G.  M. 
Nichols,  Jno.  A.  Russell,  G.  B.  Borden,  Mrs.  Franklyn  Rowland, 
W.  A.  Gurney. 

Stewards — J.  R.  Allen,  G.  M.  Nichols,  M.  S.  Douglass,  Chas. 
Trull,  J.  R.  Thompson,  Jr.,  G.  B.  Borden,  Mrs.  G.  B.  Borden,  Mrs. 
Pamelia  Allen,  Alexander  Houston,  Mrs.  Lydia  Jenney,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Lyon,  Franklyn  Howland,  Caroline  S.  Cushman  (R.  S.). 

Epworth  League — President,  W.  A.  Gurney;  First  Vice-President, 
Jennie  Gardner;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Job  Haskins;  Third 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Emma  H.  Howland;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Emma  Poulson;  Sec.,  Lizzie  Andrews;  Treas.,  Alberta  Darling. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Jno.  R.  Thompson,  Jr.;  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  W.  A.  Gurney;  Secretary,  Thos.  O.  Hathaway; 
Librarian,  May  Hathaway. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BARNSTABLE,  MASS. 
By  Miss  Ellen  F.  Crocker. 

This  old  church  was  organized  very  early  in  the  present  century, 
probably  in  1813,  by  Rev.  Aaron  Lummis.  The  house  of  worship 
was  built  upon  the  town's  land  at  the  western  limit  of  the  old  East 
Parish,  upon  a  hill,  opposite  the  farmhouse  of  William  Crocker.  It 

was  the  only  Methodist  church 
in  that  vicinity,  and  people 
came  from  the  adjoining  villages 
of  West  Barnstable,  Cotuit, 
Marston's  Mills,  Centreville, 
Hyannis  and  Barnstable  town. 
In  those  days  people  were  in  the 
habit  of  going  to  church;  in- 
deed, the  male  population,  was 
liable  to  a  fine  if  they  did  not 
attend  church  twice  during  the 

tyear,     consequently     the     pews 
:-"-'-    -•    -iJi  jfl          were   usually  filled.       As   more 

j 

people  attended  from  Barn- 
stable  town  than  the  other  vil- 
lages it  was  finally  deemed  ad- 
visable to  move  the  church. 

In  1837  Loring  Crocker, 
William  Crocker,  Elijah  Lor- 
ing, and  John  Bassett  of  Barn- 
stable  and  Joseph  Holway  of 
Sandwich,  Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society,  purchased  of 
Lot  and  Rebecca  Hinckley  a  piece  of  land  eighty-four  feet  square 
about  a  mile  east  of  its  first  site,  and  the  old  church  was  sawn  in  halves 
and  removed  to  its  present  location. 

Here  the  society  continued  to  flourish  until  about  1850,  when  a 
religious  excitement  broke  out  among  the  members,  which  ran  into 
fanaticism.  Shoutings  and  "religious  exercises"  were  common  in  the 
church  and  some  would  pray,  sing  and  shout  in  the  streets  or  wherever 
they  happened  to  be.  One  woman  proclaimed  herself  the  Messiah, 
and  claimed  the  power  of  conferring  the  Holy  Ghost.  Finally,  some 
were  arrested  for  disturbing  the  peace,  and  two  lodged  in  jail,  but 
were  soon  bailed  out,  and  a  trial  was  held  in  a  large  barn,  as  the 
Court  House  was  being  built,  but  not  finished.  This  put  an  end  to 
the  disturbances,  but  it  was  a  blow  from  which  the  church  never  re- 
covered. A  little  later,  when  the  wave  of  modern  Spiritualism  came 


THE  BARNSTABLE  CHURCH. 


12 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


this  way,  those  who  had  come  out  from  the  church  embraced  that 
doctrine  and  the  church  was  again  weakened. 

The  records  of  the  church  previous  to  about  1870  have  been  lost; 
since  then  this  church  has  been  incorporated  with  the  Yarmouthport 
Society,  one  pastor  doing  the  work  for  the  two  societies  until  the 
Yarmouthport  Society  died  out,  about  1880.  After  that  the  Barn- 
stable  Society  struggled  along  alone,  and  uniting  a  part  of  the  time 
with  the  society  at  Centreville. 

Then,  as  the  years  went  on,  the  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel 
sought  the  Promised  Land,,  and  there  were  none  to  fill  their  places; 
thus  the  life  of  the  church  gradually  went  out. 

Many  preachers  and  lecturers  have  said  that  they  found  nowhere 
more  intelligent  or  appreciative  audiences  than  upon  Cape  Cod. 
After  other  churches  were  established  at  Marston's  Mills,  Osterville 
and  Centreville,  the  pastorate  at  Barnstable  still  covered  a  large 
territory.  But  yet  it  reduced  the  Barnstable  parish.  Barnstable  was 
once  an  important  seaport  with  large  fishing  interests.  But  things 
have  changed  here,  as  in  other  places  on  Cape  Cod.  As  the  place  has 
no  large  business  or  manufacturing  interests  its  young  people  have 
gradually  drifted  to  the  cities,  and  the  church  suffered  accordingly. 
Many  of  the  brightest  and  most  intelligent  business  and  professional 
men  have  gone  from  Barnstable  to  the  cities.  It  has  been  this  fact 
of  a  loss  of  the  young  people  here  that  has  made  the  work  of  the 
church  so  discouraging  during  the  past  twenty-five  years  and  caused 
it  to  be  closed  in  1894. 

How  strong  or  far  reaching  its  influence  has  been  no  one  can  tell 
until  the  deeds  of  men  shall  be  made  known. 


PASTORS. 

1818-19.     Benjamin  Hazleton  1831-32. 

1820  Isaac  Jennison 

1821  E.      T.      Taylor      and  1833 

Thomas  Smith  1834 

1823  Lewis  Bates  and  Geo 

Weeks  1835 

1824  Lewis  Bates  and  J.  M. 

Maffet  1836. 

1825  Hezekiah  Thatcher 

1826  H.  Thatcher  and  Chas.  1837 

G.  Chase  1838 

1827  Enoch  Bradley  1839 

1828  Warren  Wilbur  1840 

1829  H.    Bronson    and    S.  1841 

Heath 

1830  H.  Bronson  and  C.  1842-43. 

Noble  1843 


F.  Upham  and  J.   B. 
Brown 

A.  Holway 

W.  Ramsdell  and  B. 

M.  Walker 
J.  Steele  and  L.   K. 

Bannister 
J.   Steele   and   H.    H. 

Smith 
E.  Otis 
Josiah  Litch 
Henry  H.  Smith 
Eliphlet  Jackson 
J.  W.  Chase  and  W.  S. 

Campbell 
George  W.  Stearns 

G.  H.  Winchester 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1844  D.  Stebbins  1871 

1845  E-  A-  Lyon  1873-74. 

1846  Wm.  Richards  1875-78. 

1847  Henry  Mayo 

1848  James  M.  Worcester  1879-80. 
1849-50.  G.  W.  Stearns  1881-82. 
1851-52.  Edward  B.  Hinckley  1883-85. 
1853-54.  James  B.  Weeks  1886 
!855  Joseph  Marsh  1887 
1856-61.  Daniel  Webb 

1862-66.  Seth  B.  Chase  1888 

1867  Caleb  S.  Sanford  1889 

1868  S.  Y.  Wallace  1890 

1869  S.  W.  Coggeshall  (six  1891 

months)  1892 

1869-71.  N.  B.  Fisk  (six  mos.)  1893— 


V.  W.  Mattoon 
Silas  Sprowls 
Students  from  Boston 

University 
T.  B.  Gurney 
C.  F.  Sharpe 
Philo  Hawks 
H.  N.  Donnell 
Students  from  Boston 

University 
E.  F.  Newell 
George  Bernreuter 
R.  S.  Moore 
J.  F.  Prior 
R.  C.  Miller 
J.  S.  Meracle 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BRIDGEWATER,  MASS. 

The  origin  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  of  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  is 
an  illustration  of  the  living  power  and   divine   principle   of  growth 
which  inheres  in  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  which  has 
marked  the  progress  of  His  Kingdom  from  the  beginning  to  the  pres- 
ent    time.     Like     the     use     and 
spread  of  that  world-wide  polity 
of  which  it  forms    a    part,    this 
church  owes  its  birth  to  the  in- 
spiration and  zeal  enkindled  by 
a  genuine  conversion. 

While  visiting  at  Raynham, 
Mass.,  Miss  Abbie  F.  Lawrence, 
now  Mrs.  F.  C.  Gammons,  was 
converted  in  a  revival  meeting 
conducted  by  Rev.  W.  F.  Steele. 
She  immediately  returned  to 
her  home  in  Bridgewater  filled 
with  a  desire  to  have  Methodist 
meetings  started  there,  and  on 
Tuesday,  April  14,  1874,  she 
began  to  solicit  subscriptions 
for  that  purpose.  Going  from 
house  to  house  telling  the  story 
of  her  conversion  and  receiving 

the  pledges  of  the  people  for  the  amounts  they  were  willing  to  con- 
tribute, she  obtained  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars. 


THE   BREDGEWATER  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


REV.  R.  C.  GROSE,  Pastor. 


Having  now  secured  a  basis  for  the  support  of  preaching,  the  people 
at  once  proceeded  to  engage  a  "supply." 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  George  H.  Baker,  a  student  in  the 
School  of  Theology  of  Boston  University.  He  came  to  Bridgewater 

on  Saturday,  May  2,  1874.  In  the 
meantime  the  old  Swedenborgian 
church  had  been  rented,  and  in  that 
place,  at  half  past  ten  A.  M.,  on  Sun- 
day, May  3d,  he  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon from  the  words  found  in  John  xii, 
21 :  "We  would  see  Jesus." 

It  was  found  that  there  were  a  num- 
ber of  persons  interested  in  the  move- 
ment who  held  church  letters  from 
places  whence  they  had  removed  to 
Bridgewater,  but  who,  in  the  absence 
of  Methodist  services,  had  attended  the 
services  of  other  churches.  These  were 
now  formed  into  a  "class"  and  the  so- 
ciety or  church  was  duly  constituted. 
The  pastor  led  the  class  for  the  first 

few  months,  but  in  February  of  the  year  1875,  Ferdinand  C.  Gam- 
mons was  appointed  to  that  office.  Three  of  the  original  members, 
F.  C.  Gammons,  Mrs.  Abbie  Lawrence  Gammons  (nee  Abbie  F. 
Lawrence),  and  Mahala  C.  Harriman,  still  remain  earnest  workers  in 
the  church. 

Under  the  earnest  and  abundant  labors  of  Rev.  G.  H.  Baker,  a 
Sunday  School  was  organized  and  the  society  passed  the  first  months 
of  its  life  with  the  hopefulness  and  glow  of  youthful  enthusiasm. 
During  the  succeeding  years  the  work  of  the  church  has  been  carried 
on  with  varying  success.  Quite  a  large  number  of  names  has  been 
added  to  the  membership,  but  death  and  removals  have  kept  the  list 
comparatively  small. 

During  the  pastorate  of  George  W.  Coon,  the  Swedenborgian 
church  was  purchased  by  the  society  for  the  sum  of  $900,  and  the  deed 
was  received  May  12,  1879.  A  board  of  trustees  was  elected  and 
organized  as  a  corporation  June  12,  1879.  In  March,  1890,  Mrs. 
Cordelia  B.  Jones,  an  honored  member  of  the  church,  died,  leaving  by 
her  last  will  $2,000  to  the  trustees  of  our  Conference  to  be  held  in 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  this  church,  the  interest  thereon  to  be  paid 
annually  to  the  trustees.  The  entire  amount  has  been  invested  here 
and  a  parsonage  property  and  a  commodious  double  house,  each  con- 
taining ten  large  rooms,  are  the  results.  Hence  the  church  of  this 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


place  has  practically  the  use  of  both  principal  and  interest  as  long  as  it 

shall  continue  to  exist,  and  Mrs.  Jones  will  ever  be  held  in  grateful 

remembrance  for  her  generous  liberality. 

In   1880  extensive  repairs   were   made   on  the   church   building 

amounting  to  $600,  Rev.  W.  F.  Farrington,  the  pastor  at  the  time, 

doing  much  toward  accomplishing  the  desired  end. 

In  1894  under  the  successful  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Luther  E.  Lovejoy 
the  church  building  was  com- 
pletely remodeled  at  a  cost  of  over 
$1,600,  making  it  a  beautiful  and 
serviceable  place  of  worship.  It  is 
very  apparent  that  the  church  has 
made  substantial  and  permanent 
growth.  Its  hold  upon  the  town 
has  been  constantly  increasing  and 
in  the  near  future  it  is  hoped  and 
expected  that  this  will  be  one  of 
the  strong  appointments  of  the 
Conference. 


THE  BRIDGEWATER  PARSONAGE. 


PASTORS. 

1874.  George  H.  Baker  1886.  J.  A.  Rood 

1875.  J.  R.  Wood                       1887.  G.  E.  Dunbar 
1875.          W.  G.  Wilson                   1888.  R.  J.  Kellogg 
1876-77.     T.  J.  Everett                      1889.  J.  N.  Geisler 

1878.  C.  H.  Morgan  1890.  G.  Bernreuter 

1879.  G.  W.  Coon                       1891.  R.  E.  Smith 
1879-80.     W.  F.  Farrington             1892-94.     L.  E.  Lovejoy 
1881-82.     T-  B.  Hingeley                   1895.  T-  F.  Porter 
1883.          W.  A.  Wright                    1896—  R.  C.  Grose 
1884-85.     E.  S.  Fletcher 

Sunday  School — A.  F.  Sprague,  Superintendent;  Herman  Gam- 
mons, Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Epworth  League — Professor  A.  Osuna,  President;  Agnes  Deering, 
Secretary. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BRYANTVILLE,  MASS. 

On  January  7,  1825,  the  Rev.  B.  Otheman,  then  stationed  at  the 
Duxbury  M.  E.  Church,  was  invited  to  preach  in  this  vicinity.  Much 
interest  and  seriousness  being  apparent  among  the  people,  Mr. 
Otheman  engaged  Rev.  Robert  Gould,  a  local  preacher,  to  go  to  Pem- 


THE   BRYANTVILLE   CHURCH. 

broke.  This  brought  the  formation  of  a  Methodist  class  about 
February  9,  1825,  and  the  stationing  in  this  place  of  Rev.  William  R. 
Stone,  under  the  direction  of  the  presiding  elder.  In  1826,  the  church 
appears  in  the  Conference  minutes  by  the  name  of  Pembroke.  The 
labors  of  the  Rev.  William  Ramsdell  were  much  blessed,  and  though 
the  church  was  kept  in  an  unsettled  state  through  many  of  the 
pastors  leaving  after  but  a  short  stay,  it  enjoyed  much  prosperity  and 
frequently  extensive  revivals  occurred. 

During  the  years  1840-44  the  church  suffered  much  through  local 
dissatisfaction  on  account  of  the  Episcopacy  of  the  Church  and  the 
meeting-house  was  closed  from 
regular  preaching  services.  But 
on  petitioning  the  Conference 
for  a  minister  the  name  of 
Pembroke  again  appeared  on 
the  minutes  of  the  Conference 
and  thus  the  work  went  on.  In 
the  years  1857-58,  under  the 
leadership  of  G.  S.  Alexander, 
quite  an  extensive  revival  took 
place.  During  the  years  1862- 
63  a  member  of  the  East 
Maine  Conference,  Rev.  J.  A.  THE  BRYANTVILLE  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  17 

Steele,  became  pastor.  This  was  a  trying  time  for  the  church,  as  a 
few  of  the  most  earnest  workers  passed  to  that  bourne  from  which  no 
traveler  returns,  and  others  filled  with  patriotism  enlisted  in  the  army 
to  fight  for  their  country. 

Again  the  church  suffered  because  of  no  pastor  being  duly  ap- 
pointed by  Conference,  though  there  was  preaching  occasionally. 
After  a  short  period  the  Conference  again  took  up  the  charge  and 
interest  on  all  lines  of  Christian  work  was  resumed  with  Charles  N. 
Hinckley  as  pastor,  and  thus  the  work  went  on  under  the  various 


REV.   J.  O.   RUTTER,   Pastor. 


MRS.   J.   O.    RUTTER. 


pastors,  sometimes  with  an  increased  revival  interest,  sometimes  at 
very  low  ebb,  but  always  with  a  faithful  pious  few  standing  firm,  and 
true. 

The  society  has  been  known  for  some  years  back  as  the  Bryant- 
ville  M.  E.  Church  and  is  pleasantly  situated  in  the  town  of  Pembroke, 
Plymouth  County.  Some  years  ago  a  pleasant  parsonage,  with 
adjacent  grounds,  was  left  to  the  society  by  Mr.  Damon,  deceased. 
About  four  years  ago  an  Epworth  League  was  organized  by  Rev. 
R.  E.  Smith,  and  is  in  fair  working  order.  There  is  also  a  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  in  connection  with  the  church.  During  the  past  year  the 
society  underwent  a  severe  trial  through  the  death  of  their  beloved 
pastor,  Rev.  C.  P.  Flanders,  February,  1897,  during  the  third  year  of 
his  pastorate. 

During  the  past  year  the  parsonage  has  been  almost  remodeled 
and  thoroughly  renovated.  The  society  now  enjoys  a  very  pleasant 
place  for  worship. 

Many  of  the  pastors  have  enjoyed  blessed  revivals. 


i8 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1826-28.     W.  R.  Stone. 

1829  A.     Loomis    and    A. 

Joselyn. 

1830-31.     William  Ramsdell. 
1832           J.  Barnes  and  B.  King 


HERMAN  BEAL. 
Epworth   League   President. 


1833 

I834-35- 

1841-42. 

1845 
1846 

1847 
1848 


J.  Bailey 
E.  C.  Scott. 
D.  Stebbins. 
Lewis  Bates 
J.  French 
J.  D.  King 
J.  French 


1849 

1850-51. 

1852. 

1853 
1854 

1856-57- 

1858 

1859 

1 860-6 1. 

1862-63. 

1864-66. 

1867 

1868-69. 

1870 

1871-72. 

1873 

1874 

1875-76. 

1877 

1878-79. 

1 880-8 1. 

1882 

1883 

1883-84. 

1885-86. 

1887-88. 

1889 

1890 

1891. 

1892-93. 

1894-96. 

1897- 


A  Adams 
J.  C.  Fifield 
G.  H.  Winchester 
E.  Blake 
J.  B.  Washburn 
G.  S.  Alexander 
J.   B.  Weeks 
Josiah  Biggins 
N.  P.  Selee 
J.  A.  Steele 
C.  N.  Hinckley 
Franklin  Sears 

E.  S.  Fletcher 
Philip  Crandon 

W.  F.  Farrington 
J.  W.  Malcolm 
W.  B.  Heath 

N.  W.  Chase 
J.  E.  Corley 
j.  B.  Washburn 
W.  I.  Ward 
S.  F.  Harriman 
A.  L.  Hoyt 
J.  F.  Cooper 
V.  W.  Mattoon 
J.  S.  Thomas 

F.  H.  Ellis 

F.  D.  Sargent 
F.  D.  Fisher 
R.  E.  Smith 
C.  P.  Flanders 
J.  O.  Rutter 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 
OFFICERS. 


Trustees — S.  T.  Niles,  H.  H.  Foster,  H.  W.  Foster,  John  Foster, 
Herman  Beal,  Dr.  O.  W.  Charles,  E.  T.  Clark. 

Stewards — S.  T.  Niles,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Perry,  Herman  Beal,  Deborah 
S.  Howard,  Julia  S.  Howard,  Lawrence  Reed,  Deborah  Joslyn,  Luther 
Shurtleff,  H.  B.  MacLaughlin,  Maria  Howland, 

Sunday  School — Rev.  J.  O.  Rutter,  Superintendent;  Mrs.  Helen 
Beal,  Assistant  Superintendent;  Herman  Beal,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer; George  E.  Clark,  Librarian;  Abbie  Gorham,  Assistant  Librarian. 

Teachers — G.  Kilbreth.  Mrs.  P.  S.  Damon,  Mrs.  Annie  Rutter, 
L.  W.  Reed,  Mrs.  Helen  Beal,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Clark. 

District  Steward — S.  T.  Niles. 

Class  Leader — S.  T.  Niles. 

Epworth  League — Herman  Beal,  President;  Lawrence  Reed, 
First  Vice-President;  Mrs.  H.  Pratt,  Second  Vice-President;  Mrs.  H. 
Beale,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BOURNE,  MASS. 

The  history  of  this  village  reaches  far  into  the  past.  As  early  as 
1622  this  place  was  visited  by  Gov.  Bradford,  and  five  years  later, 
when  it  was  known  as  Monument  (a  corruption  of  the  Indian  name 
Manomet),  a  trading-house  was  built  by  the  people  of  Plymouth  be- 


THE   BOURNE   CHURCH. 

side  the  river  which  flows  back  of  the  church.  The  location  was  so 
favorable  for  its  intended  uses  that  much  business  was  done  with  the 
Indians,  and  more  especially  with  the  people  of  New  Amsterdam.  Pos- 
sibly because  of  these  early  relations,  and  partly  because  this  stands 
as  the  gateway  of  Cape  Cod,  Jesse  Lee  preached  here  (1791)  a  little 
more  than  two  years  after  his  first  sermon  in  New  England.  His  mes- 
sage was  gladly  received  by  some  steadfast  persons,  and,  three  years 
later,  when  Joshua  Hall  was  appointed  to  Cape  Cod  and  stationed  in 
this  town,  a  class  of  thirteen  members  was  formed  whose  descendants 
in  large  part  constitute  the  church  of  the  present  day. 

But  it  was  a  time  of  most  intense  opposition.  The  modern  sym- 
pathy between  Christians  of  dif- 
ferent denominations  was  not 
yet  in  vogue;  the  established 
church  was  strong  and  pos- 
sessed of  all  the  prestige  which 
comes  from  vested  rights  and 
an  undoubted  social  standing. 
Theologically  and  in  other  re- 
spects a  Methodist  minister  was 
an  Ishmaelite,  and  to  ostracize 
him  and  his  followers  consti- 
tuted an  unquestioned  proof  of 
piety.  So  it  came  about  that 
the  first  class-leader,  John  THE  BOURNE  PARSONAGE. 


2O 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Perry,  had  his  cow  sold  at  auction  to  pay  the  parish  tax,  and 
many  others  suffered  scarcely  less.  But  Methodism  slowly  won  its 
Avay  and,  since  the  obstructionists  were  good  people,  they  finally 
•ceased  to  persecute.  This  process  continued,  and,  some  years  since, 
when  the  parish  church  had  been  struck  by  lightning  and  burned  it 
was  felt  that  our  society  met  so  well  the  spiritual  demand  that  the  Con- 
gregationalists  decided  to  leave  the  field  to  their  former  rivals  and,  in 
•a  most  fraternal  spirit,  help  them  to  cultivate  it. 

The  first  church  was  erected  in  1831,  and  will  ever  be  a  monument 


REV.   R.   E.    SCHUH. 


MRS.    R.    E.    SCHUH. 


to  Capt.  Ellis  M.  Swift.  At  a  time  when  but  $20  was  subscribed,  he 
bought  the  lumber  and  shipped  it  from  Maine  in  his  own  vessel;  he 
hired  the  workmen  and  paid  all  bills  and  trusted  to  the  future  for  re- 
imbursement. The  bulding  was  repaired  in  1844  and  1845,  and  en- 
larged in  1883  at  a  cost  of  $2500. 

In  1891,  during  the  pastorate  of  C.  S.  Davis,  a  commodious  sum- 
mer chapel,  costing  $3300,  was  built  at  Monument  Beach,  in  the  south 
neighborhood. 

In  its  long  history  this  society  has  owned  but  two  parsonages.  The 
first  fell  into  decay  and  was  sold.  A  syndicate  then  bought  a  house 
and  leased  it  to  the  pastor  at  a  low  figure.  As  this  arrangement  did 
not  prove  satisfactory,  in  1869  the  present  parsonage  was  purchased, 
and  by  numerous  additions  and  improvements  has  been  made  a  very 
roomy  and  comfortable  home. 

There  have  been  revivals  at  various  times.  Altogether  the  church 
lias  shown  a  remarkable  vitality,  and  the  centennial  celebration,  in 
October,  1894,  called  attention  anew  to  God's  kindly  leading.  Of  self- 
sacrificing  men  and  women  there  have  been  many  whose  names  it 
'would  be  a  pleasure  to  recall. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


21 


PASTORS. 
The  list  of  pastors  is  a  long  and  in  many  respects  a  notable  one. 


1794. 
1795-96. 
1798. 
1799. 

1 800-0 1. 
1802-03. 


Joshua  Hall 
Joseph,  Snelling 
Epaphras  Kibby 
Daniel       Webb 

Reuben  Jones 
Joshua     Soule 

wards  Bishop) 
David  Bachelor 


1804. 
1805. 
1806. 
and 

1807. 
(after-  1808. 


Joshua  Snelling 

Moses  Currier 

Erastus  Otis  and  Na- 
thaniel Elder 

Thomas  Asbury 

Joseph  Snelling  and 
Joseph  Merrill 


This  was  Joseph  Snelling's  third  pastoral  term  here;  probably  be- 
cause he  had  married  his  wife  from  this  place. 


ABRAM  F.   SWIFT, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 

1809.  Joseph     Snelling     and 

Benjamin  Lombard 

1810.  Stephen  Baley 
1811-12.     Aaron  Lummis 

1813.  Stephen  Baley 

1814.  William       Frost       and 

Thomas  Pierce 

1815.  John    W.    Handy    and 

Richard  Emory 

1816.  Moses  Fifield 
1817-19.     Benjamin  Hezelton 
1820.  Edward  T.  Tavlor 


C.    H.    PHINNEY, 
Epworth  League  President. 

1821.  Edward  T.  Taylor  and 

Benjamin  Brown 

1822.  Frederick  Upham 

1823.  Aaron  D.  Sargent 

1824.  Jonathan  May  hew 

1825.  Erastus  Otis  and  John 

Hutchinson 

1826-27.     Frederick  Upham 
1828.          Enoch  Bradley  and  Na- 
than Spaulding 
1829-30.     Frederick  Upham 


Stationed  here  the  third  time,  perhaps  because  he  had  married 
"his  wife  here.  The  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham  was  not  born  here,  but  was 
brought  here  when  a  small  child,  and  his  mother's  home  is  still 
'•standing. 


22 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1831-32.     Joel  Steele,  Lewis  Jan-   1844. 

son,    Joseph     Marsh   1845. 

and  C.  C.  Noble  1846-47. 

J833-          J-  J-   Bliss   and  Josiah   1848. 

Litch  1849-50. 

1834.          Joseph  Barstow  1851. 

1852. 

1853- 
1854. 

&,  1855- 


1856-58. 
1859. 
1 860-6 1. 
1862-63. 


1864. 

1865-66. 

1867-69. 

1870-71. 

1872-74. 

1875-76. 

1877. 

1878-79. 

1880-82. 

1883-85. 

1886-88. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

I893-95- 
1896— 


MRS. 


V.    MORRISON. 


1835-6. 


1837. 

1838. 

I839. 

1840-41. 

1842. 

1843- 


Philip  Crandon  (also 
serving  as  village 
schoolmaster) 

Abraham  Holway 

Joseph  Brown 

N.  Mayo 

Joseph  Marsh 

Nathan  Paine 

Anthony  Palmer 


G.  W.  Brewster 
Heman  Perry 
N.  Goodrich 
William  H.  Richards 

D.  H.  Swinerton 
Joseph  Macreading 
S.  Stebbings 
John  B.  Hunt. 

E.  B.  Hinckley 

E.  S.  Stanley  for  a  few 
months,  then  Lemuel 
Harlow 

Franklin  Sears 

J.  B.  Washburn 

George  H.  Winchester 

Asa  U.  Swinerton.    He 
died  during  the  year, 
and  his  term  by  vari- 
ous supplies. 

G.  A.  Silversteine 

John  B.  Husted 

Philo  Hawkes 

C.  N.  Hinckley 

E.  S.  Fletcher 

J.  H.  Humphrey 

E.  J.  Ayres 

A.  L.  Dearing 

C.  N.  Hinckley 

R.  Burn 

J.  G.  Gammons 

J.  Q.  Adams 

C.  S.  Davis 

N.  C.  Alger 

R.  E.  Schuh 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— A.  R.  Eldridge,  President;  E.  H.  Tobey,  A.  F.  Swift, 
J.  L.  Bourne,  P.  F.  Butler,  C.  H.  Phinney,  O.  R.  Swift,  M.  C.  Water- 
house. 

Stewards— E.  H.  Tobey  (R.  S.),  A.  F.  Swift,  J.  L.  Bourne,  P.  F. 
Butler,  C.  H.  Phinney,  H.  E.  Perry,  William  E.  Perry,  Reuben  Bur- 
gess, William  A.  Gidley,  Clarence  Whipple,  John  B.  Phinney,  W.  W. 
Phinney,  H.  C.  Phinney. 

Epworth  League — President,  C.  H.  Phinney;  First  Vice-  President, 
J.  L.  Bourne;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Phinney;  Secretary- 
Treasurer,  Miss  Alice  Bourne. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BERKELEY,  MASS. 
By  E.  H.  Allen. 

The  Trinitarian  Congregational  Society  in  Berkeley  was  organ- 
ized March  i,  1848.  Rev.  L.  R.  Eastman,  their  first  pastor,  com- 
menced service  the  first  Sabbath  in  April,  1848,  and  left  the  last 
Sabbath  in  March,  1856.  Rev.  James  A.  Roberts  commenced  his 

pastorate  the  first  Sabbath  in  April, 
1856,  and  left  off  the  last  Sabbath 
in  September,  1872,  to  "rest,"  as  he 
said;  and  died  the  following  Novem- 
ber in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  Rev. 
G.  W.  Wright  was  employed  as  a 
supply  and  commenced  the  first 
Sabbath  in  October,  1872,  and 
continued  until  March  5,  1873,  at 
which  time  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Berkeley  was 
organized.  In  1875  a  very  pleasant 
and  commodious  building  was 
erected  at  an  expense  of  $7,500 
for  the  First  Methodist  Church  in 
Berkeley. 

The  following  is  quoted  from  the  first  records:  "The  following 
named  persons  constitute  the  official  board  of  the  First  Methodist- 
Episcopal  church  in  the  town  of  Berkeley,  organized  on  Wednesday, 
March  5,  1873,  at  the  now  Methodist-Episcopal  chapel  in  the  afore- 
said Berkeley,  viz.,  A.  B.  Crane,  William  Babbitt,  P.  F.  Fletcher, 
Isaac  Seymour,  Barnard  Norcutt,  S.  H.  Cudworth,  Henry  W.  Clark, 
Benjamin  Luther,  F.  H.  Coombs,  R.  B.  Eaton,  B.  F.  Cheney  and 
D.  S-  Briggs.  Stewards— A.  B.  Crane,  Philip  H.  Fletcher,  D.  S. 
Briggs,  Benjamin  Luther,  William  Babbitt,  Benjamin  F.  Cheney, 
R.  B.  Eaton,  F.  H.  Coombs,  Isaac  Seymour  (R.  S.),  A.  B.  Crane, 
(D.  S.),  D.  S.  Briggs-  Trustees — Albert  French,  William  Babbitt, 
Henry  Clark,  D.  S.  Briggs,  William  Boyce,  A.  B.  Crane,  W.  D. 
Nichols,  Barnard  Norcutt,  Samuel  Cudworth." 


THE    BERKELEY   CHURCH. 


1873.  G.  W.  Wright 

1874-76.  C.   H.   Ewer 

1877.  C.  S.  Nutter 

1878-79.  J.  H.  Humphrey 

1880-82.  Richard  Burn 

188^-85.  A.  N.  Bodfish 

1886-87.  E-   S-  Fletcher 


PASTORS. 

1888-90. 

1891. 

1892-93. 

1894. 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 


E.  A.  Lyon 
J.  W.  Willett 
W.  R.  Ridington 
E.  M.  Hill 
B.  McCarty 
E.   B.   Gurney 
Richard  Knowles 


24  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — E.  H.  Allen,  James  Macomber,  William  Caswell,  David 
Hoxie,  George  Harmon,  Cassius  Viall. 

Stewards — E.  H.  Allen  (R.  S.),  Angeline  Bassett,  Abbie  Caswell, 
Lydia  Macomber,  Martha  Wellman,  Mary  Richmond,  M.  E.  West- 
gate,  Mary  Eaton,  Lizzie  A.  Hoxie,  Angenora  M.  Bowen,  James 
Maguire,  Mary  Corey. 


E.    H.   ALLEN, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MRS.   LIZZIE   HOXIE. 
Epworth  League  President. 


Sunday  School — E.  H.  Allen,  Superintendent;  Teachers,  Abbie 
Caswell,  William  Caswell,  Angeline  Bassett,  Emma  P.  Bassett,  Mary 
L.  Corey. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Hoxie;  First  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Olivia  Hatch;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Frances 
Conant;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Bertha  Cummings;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  Miss  Edna  M.  Hoxie. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CATAUMET  AND  POCASSET,  MASS. 

This  double  charge  formerly  bore  the  latter  name.  In  the  auto- 
biography of  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling,  that  pioneer  Methodist  preacher 
of  "the  Cape,"  who,  in  company  with  Jesse  Lee  and  other  itinerants, 
faithfully  and  successfully  sowed  Methodist  seed  among  the  sand  dunes 


THE  CATAUMET  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 

of  Cape  Cod,  from  Provincetown  to  Wood's  Hole,  and  across  on  the 
islands  of  the  seas,  occurs  this  paragraph : 

"I  now  left  the  traveling  connection,  and  resided  in  Pocasset,  the 
second  parish  in  Sandwich.  The  people  in  Pocasset  desiring  me  to 
be  their  preacher,  I  consented,  and  continued  four  or  five  years.  We 
had  a  good  meeting-house,  and  a  large  and  steady  congregation."  Mr. 
Snelling  resided  in  this  neighborhood  about  1808-13.  He  was  a 
native  of  Boston,  a  man  of  great  affability  of  manners  and  kindness 
of  heart,  an  able  and  earnest  preacher,  commanding  the  love  and 
respect  of  all.  In  the  course  of  his  ministry  there  were  extraordinary 
revivals,  often  accompanied  by  remarkable  displays  of  divine  power, 
persons  being  greatly  wrought  upon  physically.  The  church  was 
greatly  strengthened  during  his  administration,  the  society  being 
organized  and  the  ordinances  regularly  administered.  The  reason 
assigned  by  Mr.  Snelling  for  leaving  Pocasset  is  given  in  his  own 
words : 

"I  resided  in  Sandwich  till  after  the  commencement  of  the  last 
war  (1812).  Suffering  some  privations  and  inconveniences,  usually 
attendant  upon  war,  I  thought  it  best  to  remove  from  there  as  soon  as 
opportunity  offered.  I  lived  on  the  sea-board,  and  my  house  was  near 
the  shore.  The  English  vessels  sometimes  anchored  in  Buzzard's 
Bay,  a  short  distance  from  my  house.  In  some  places  they  came 


26 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


ashore  in  their  barges,  and  made  their  depredations,  being  quite  an 
annoyance  to  the  inhabitants.  Our  friends  in  Pocasset  were  very 
unwilling  that  I  should  leave  them,  and  it  was  a  great  trial  to  me ;  but, 
after  considering  the  matter,  I  concluded  it  was  my  duty  to  go.  We 
had  always  lived  in  harmony  and  good  feeling  towards  each  other, 
and  we  found  it  hard  parting."  The  house  which  Mr.  Sn-elling  occu- 
pied is  still  in  the  village,  though  removed  about  half  a  mile  south  of 
its  first  location.  It  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  George  A. 
Swift,  one  of  the  official  members  of  the  church.  An  ancient  tomb- 


REV.   W.    D.    WOODWARD. 


MRS.    W.    D.    WOODWARD. 


stone  in  the  cemetery  opposite  the  church  marks  the  resting-place  of 
his  first  wife,  "Hannah  Snelling,  consort  of  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling,  who 
departed  this  life  June  13,  1812,  aged  34." 

From  1815  to  1822  Pocasset  was  supplied  by  such  itinerants  as 
Frederick  Upham,  Erastus  Otis,  Levi  Nye,  et«v  From  1822  to  about 
1830  the  church  was  under  the  rule  of  the  Reformed  Methodists.  But 
about  1830  Father  Snelling,  who  had  joined  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  came  to  a  camp-meeting  held  in  South  Pocasset,  and  per- 
suaded nearly  all  of  the  Reformed  Societies  to  become  churches  of 
the  Methodist  Protestant  body.  About  the  year  1835  the  first  Meth- 
odist Protestant  Church  in  Sandwich  was  organized  in  Pocasset,  with 
about  40  members.  This  form  of  government  lasted  until  1866. 
About  1839  the  meeting-house  was  moved  partially  around,  a  new 
front  with  tower  and  belfry  was  added,  and  the  old-fashioned  box 
pews  gave  place  to  those  of  more  modern  style.  About  $1650  was 
thus  expended.  It  was  during  the  year  1854  that  the  present  small 
parsonage  was  moved  up  from  Barlow  Landing,  and  placed  opposite 
the  church.  This  house,  with  the  addition  of  a  small  kitchen,  has 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


27 


served  as  the  home  of  many  preachers  for  over  forty  years,  and  at  the 
present  time  efforts  are  being  made  to  build  a  larger  and  more  con- 
venient residence.  In  1866  Rev.  Lorenzo  D.  Johnson,  a  former  pas- 
tor, came  to  Pocasset,  and  having  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  persuaded  the  society  to  again  unite  with  that  branch  of 
Methodism  under  whose  auspices  it  had  had  its  birth.  Accordingly 
in  August,  1866,  under  the  presiding  eldership  of  Rev.  Thomas  Ely, 
a  reorganization  was  effected.  Mr.  Johnson  died  in  January,  1867, 
and  was  buried  in  the  church  cemetery. 

For  the  greater  portion  of  this  history  we  are  indebted  to  a  full 
record  written  by  the  late  Ebenezer  Nye,  father  of  David  D.  Nye,  who 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  church,  and  also  of  the  Board  of  Select- 
men of  the  town  of  Bourne,  since  its  setting  off  from  Sandwich  in  1884. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Gurney,  the  church  was  moved 
out  of  its  location,  within  the  cemetery  enclosure,  across  the  street.  A 
vestry  was  placed  beneath,  new  stained-glass  windows  and  new  seats 
were  added.  The  church  was  painted  and  shingled,  and  altogether 
remodeled  at  an  expense  of  about  $5,000,  most  of  which  is  paid.  It  is 
now  one  of  the  finest  church  buildings  of  its  size  in  the  Conference. 
Captain  Henry  Clement  is  janitor.  Up  to  this  vear  Mr.  David  D. 
Nye  had  been  the  faithful  and  efficient  Recording  Steward  for  a  period 
of  thirty  years. 


D.  D.  NYE, 

President    Board    of    Trustees. 


PASTORS. 

1808-13. 
1866-67. 
1867-70. 
1870-71. 
1871-72. 
1872-73. 

1873-74- 
1874-76. 
1876-79. 
1879-81. 
1 88 1 -88. 
1888-89. 
1889-91. 
1891-92. 
1892-94. 
1894-96. 
1896-97. 
1897  - 


Joseph  Snelling 
Lorenzo  D.  Johnson 
Joseph  Marsh 
H.  B.  Cady 
Franklyn  Sears 
Charles   W.   Ryder 
Henry  F.  A.  Patterson 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 
D.   M.   Rogers 
Edward  Williams 
Samuel  Fox 
L.  M.  Flocken 
J.   H.   Buckey 
William  Kirkby 
B.  K.  Bosworth 
F.  F,.  Gurney 
T.  F.  Duxburv 
W.  D.  Woodward 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — D.  D.  Nye,  Anthony  Little,  Levi  Phinney,  George  A. 
Swift,  Charles  Edwin  Swift. 


28 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Stewards— David  D.  Nye  (D.  S.),  Frank  K.  Irwin  (R.  S.), 
A.  Little,  Aaron  L.  Burgess,  George  A.  Swift,  Charles  E.  Swift,  Levi 
L.  Phinney,  Emma  D.  Handy,  Elizabeth  B.  Nye,  Esther  F.  Nye. 

Parsonage  Committee — E.  B.  Nye,  E.  F.  Nye,  Emma  D.  Handy , 
L.  B.  Handy,  Mary  E.  Little,  T.  C.  Swift. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  F.  K.  Irwin. 

Junior  League — President,  Mrs.  W.  D.  Woodward. 


POCASSET  PEOPLE'S  CHURCH. 

This  building  was  erected  about  four  years  ago,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,400,  all  paid  for.  It  is  a  very  neat  church,  and  well  sustained  by  a 
heroic  few.  Services  are  held  Sabbath  afternoons  and  one  evening 
a  week.  This  church  is  about  two  miles  from  the  Cataumet  house  of 


POCASSET   PEOPLE'S    CHURCH. 

worship.  Mr.  P.  Henry  Phinney  is  Sunday-School  Superintendent. 
Teachers  are  William  B.  Blackwell,  Miss  Kate  Dockray,  Mrs.  McAl- 
lister, Mrs.  Perry.  Mr.  Thomas  Adams  is  janitor.  There  is  no  reg- 
ular church  organization  here,  but  the  pulpit  is  supplied  by  the  Catau- 
met pastor.  The  seats  in  both  churches  are  free. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CHATHAM,  MASS. 

Methodism  was  first  planted  in   Chatham    about    one    hundred 

years  ago.     In  harmony  with  the  genius  of  Methodism,  Rev.  Joseph 

Snelling,  stationed  at  Provincetown,  in  his  journeys  as  an  itinerant, 

found  his  way  to  the  people  of  Chatham  in  1799. 

The  following  is  from  his  jour- 
nal: "I  preached  in  Province- 
town,  Truro,  Wellfleet,  Harwich 
and  Chatham.  At  that  time  there 
was  but  o>ne  other  Methodist 
preacher  stationed  on  the  Cape." 
From  the  beginning  the  town 
was  not  without  an  occasional 
visit  from  a  Methodist  itinerant. 
From  1807  to  1816  Chatham 
seems  to  have  formed  a  part  of  the 
Harwich  circuit.  In  the  records 
of  Harwich  circuit,  Chatham  is 
credited  in  the  year  1807  with  a 
collection  of  $4.90,  thus  indicating 
it  as  part  of  the  circuit.  The  first 
class,  consisting  of  twelve  persons, 
was  formed  October,  1816. 
The  first  meeting-house  was  built  in  1819.  In  the  records  is  found 

this  statement:  "They  did  not  wait  for  any  formal  dedication,  but  as 

soon  as  it  was  raised  and  inclosed,  they  occupied  it  for  the  worship  of 

Almighty  God.     Wonderful  and  glorious  were  the  manifestations  of 

God's  power  and  grace  in  that  old  house." 
This  was  replaced  by  a  second 

edifice  in  1833.     The  dedicatory 

sermon   was   preached   by    Rev. 

Louis    Jansen,    from    the    text: 

"The  glory  o<f  this  latter  house 

shall  be  greater  than  the  former, 

said      the      Lord      of      Hosts." 

"Words,"  says  the  records,  "that 

were  truly  prophetic,  for  if  the 

former    was    made    glorious    by 

the    manifestation    of   the    pres- 
ence   and    power    of    God,    this 

was  much  more  so."  THE  CHATHAM  PARSONAGE. 

This  house  was  occupied  sixteen  years.     December   19,  1849,  a 

third  edifice,  the  one  now  occupied,  seating  about  500  people,  was 


THE    CHATHAM    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


dedicated  by  Rev.  W.  T.  Harlow,  from  the  text:  "For  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
vation to  every  one  that  believeth."  This  building  was  erected  under 
circumstances  which  made  the  actual  cost  about  $9,000,  but  the  real 
cost  of  such  a  building  at  the  present  value  of  labor  and  material 
could  not  be  less  than  $20,000.  A  good  pipe  organ  was  added  in 
1865- 

Two  factors  stand  out  prominently  in  the  history  of  Chatham 
Methodism.  First — The  hospitality  of  the  people  towards  its  heralds. 
Rev.  Joseph  Snelling  records  in  1797:  "They  received  me  with  every 


RKV.  S.  F.  JOHNSON. 


MRS.  PHOEBE  TAYLOR. 


mark  of  affection,  and  here  I  felt  perfectly  at  home."  Similar  testi- 
monies are  to  be  found  in  almost  every  pastoral  report  to  the  present. 

Second — The  frequency  of  genuine  and  powerful  revivals  of 
religion.  Among  the  earliest  records  is  found  this  statement:  "I  found 
the  church  well  engaged  and  walking  in  the  light  and  comfort  of  the 
Holy  Spirit."  Another  records:  "A  powerful  revival  of  religion  com- 
menced while  a  large  assembly  were  gathered  to  witness  the  baptism 
of  some  half  dozen  converts,  the  power  of  God  falling  on  the  people 
in  the  most  remarkable  manner." 

In  1835,  records  Rev.  Israel  Washburn,  "One  of  the  most  power- 
ful revivals  of  religion  in  that  part  of  the  Cape  was  witnessed  in  Chat- 
ham. Scores  were  converted,  and  many  open  opposers  were  so  pow- 
erfully wrought  upon  by  the  Spirit,  that  they  were  glad  to  send  for  the 
preacher  to  come  and  pray  with  them." 

The  latest,  but  by  no  means  the  least,  among  these  seasons  of 
powerful  awakening,  was  ^  that  of  1895-96,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
J.  N.  Patterson,  with  the  assistance  of  a  band  of  Christian  Crusaders, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


together  with  the  faithful  united  labors  of  the  churches  and  pastors, 
from  which  40  persons  were  received  into  the  Church.  "But  this," 
records  the  pastor,  "is  but  a  feeble  representation  of  the  blessed  work 
which  has  actually  been  done  in  the  membership  and  regenerated  lives 
of  many." 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  camp-meetings,  first  at  Truro,  and 
afterwards  at  Eastham  and  Yarmouth,  have  again  and  again  revived 
the  spiritual  life  of  the  Church,  and  been  the  means  of  conversion  of 
many  of  its  most  useful  members. 

The  Sunday  School,  during  all  this  time,  has  shared  in  every  good 
work  of  the  church.  The  attendance  has  varied  with  the  attendance 


CALVIN  HAMMOND, 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


K.  A.  ROGERS, 
Epworth   League   President. 


of  the  other  services  and  the  spiritual  life  of  the  community.  It  was 
organized  into  a  Missionary  school  by  G.  W.  Elmer  in  1893,  and  has 
contributed  liberally  toward  this  the  greatest  of  church  benevolences. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  by  N.  C.  Alger  in  1890. 
With  less  than  20  original  members,  it  has  steadily  grown,  till  at 
present  it  has  a  membership  of  139.  From  the  beginning  it  has  filled 
a  very  important  place  in  the  religious  life  of  both  young  and  old. 
The  attendance  at  the  Sabbath  evening  meeting  is  unusually  large  in 
pleasant  weather,  being  more  than  150. 

A  Ladies  Aid  was  organized  by  Mrs.  Rev.  John  Gifford  in  1854. 
For  nearly  half  a  century  this  organization  has  formed  a  very  import- 
ant as  well  as  pleasant  part  of  the  church  life. 

PASTORS. 

1816-21.     Benjamin        Hazelton,    1822  Edward       T.       Taylor 

Isaac    Jennison,    and  ("Father  Taylor") 

George  Stone  1823  Levi  Bates 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1824 

1825 

1826 

1827-28. 

1829-30. 

1831 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835-36. 

1837-38. 

1839-40 

1841-42. 

1843 
1844 
1845-46. 

1847 

1848-49. 

1850-51. 

1852-53- 

I854-55- 


Leonard   Bennett 
Nathan   Payne 
Robert  Gould 
Hezekiah  Thatcher 
George  Stone 
William  Barstow 
David  Culver 
Lewis  Jennison 
Joseph  Brown 
Israel   Washburn 
Joel  Steele 
Thomas  Dodge 
Israel  Washburn 
George  W.  Brewster 
Onesiphorus  Robbins 
Ebenezer   D.   Trakey 
Cyrus  C.  Hunger 
William  Leonard 
William  Livesey 
Asa  U.  Swinerton 
John   Gifford 


1856-57. 

1858 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865-66. 

1867-68. 

1869-70. 

1871-72. 

1873-74. 

1875-76. 

1877-78. 

1879-80. 

1881-83. 

1884-86. 

1887-88. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

1893-96. 


Asa  N.  Bodfish 
Samuel  W.  Coggeshall 
William  H.  Stetson 
John   W.    Willett 
William  H.  Ricaards 
John  Howson 
William  F.  Farrington 
T.  Snowdon  Thomas 
Edward  Edson 
Edward  A.  Lyon 
Samuel  McKeown 
J.  D.  King 
V.  W.  Mattoon 
Warren  Applebee 
Archibald  McCord 
Walter  J.  Yates 
N.  C.  Alger 
G.  W.  Elmer 
J.  N.  Patterson 
S.  F.  Johnson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Rufus  Smith,  A.  S.  Hammond,  Elijah  Crosby,  Thomas 
Holway,  B.  S.  Cahoon,  Sullivan  Rogers,  R.  S.  Loveland,  Parker  Nick- 
erson,  Ephraim  Smith. 

Stezvards — Thomas  Holway,  Elijah  Crosby,  B.  A.  Kendrick 
(D.S.),  B.  S.  Cahoon,  James  F.  Smith,  W.  F.  Harding,  R.  C.  Taylor, 

A.  S.   Hammond,   George   F.   Harding,  C.   E.   Robbins,   Thomas  S. 
Arey,  Calvin  Hammond  (R.  S.),  A.  C.  Harding. 

Class  Leaders — B.  S.  Cahoon,  F.  A.  Rogers,  M.  D. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Calvin  Hammond;  First  Assist- 
ant, Josiah  Rogers;  Second  Assistant,  B.  A.  Kendrick;  Secretary,  Mrs. 
R.  A.  Nickerson;  Librarian,  Mrs.  Ella  Howes;  Secretary  of  Mission- 
ary Society,  Miss  Tena  Doane. 

Teachers — Superintendent  of  Primary  Department,  Phoebe  Lewis; 

B.  S.  Cahoon,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Rogers,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Harding,  W.  F.  Hard- 
ing, P.  N.  Taylor,  Eliza  W.   Harding,  Mrs.   Selena  Hawes,  Hullie 
Howard,  E.  S.  Kendrick,  Bertha  Cahoon,  Miss  Helen  Harding. 

Epworth  League — President,  F.  A.  Rogers,  M.  D.;  First  Vice- 
president,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Nickerson;  Second  Vice-President,  Hullie 
Howard;  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Nora  Hammond;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Ella  Hawes;  Secretary,  Flora  R.  Kendrick;  Treasurer, 
Eliza  Harding. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


33 


During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Warren  Applebee,  the  church  was. 
remodeled,  and  at  the  formal  reopening,  Rev.  J.  W.  Willett  was  the 
poet  of  the  occasion.  His  contribution  is  too  valuable  to  omit  from 
this  sketch. 

As  I  sat  musing  here  to-night, 
Where  all  is  new  and  fresh  and  bright, 
I  thought  of  how  this  work  began 
And  who  the  preachers  here  have  been. 
Many,  many  a  year  ago, 
How  many  years  I  do  not  know, 
A  Meth'dist  came  to  Chatham  town, 
Came  to  turn  it  upside  down. 
He  preached  Salvation  full  and  free, — 
"Whoever  will,  may  come,"  said  he; 
"Come  and  know  your  sins  forgiven, 
Come  and  taste  a  joy  like  heaven." 
The  people  heard  and  came  to  see, 
And  found  it  true  as  truth  can  be; 
The  work  went  on,  the  numbers  grew — 
A  class  was  formed,  'twas  something  new. 
Those  who  met  were  pleased  so  well, 
They  went  out  the  news  to  tell, 
'Till  others  joined  their  happy  band, 
And  for  the  Saviour  took  a  stand. 
Now  and  then  a  preacher  came, 
Who,  by  his  words,  set  hearts  aflame. 
More  and  more  the  work  spread  out, 
'Till  Bishops  heard  their  happy  shout ; 
They  gave  the  "iron  wheel"  a  turn, 
With  speed  almost  to  make  it  hum, 
And  dropped  down  here  a  preaching  sailor, 
Long  since  known  as  "Father  Taylor." 
From  then  'till  now,  'tis  our  confession, 
There's  been  no  break  in  the  succession. 
Bates  and  Bennet,  Paine  and  Gould, 
Thatcher,  Stone  and  Barstow  bold, 
Culver,  Jennison  and  Brown, 
Washburn  and  Steele,  men  to  crown, 
Thomas  Dodge,  Washburn  again, 
Brewster  with  his  busy  brain, 
Robbins,  Trakey  and  Munger  too, 
William  Leonard,  whom  well  you  knew, 
Gifford,  the  man  who  went  astray, 
Bodfish,  as  true  as  steel  to-day, 
Cogg-eshall,  who  nothing  ever  forgot, 
But  all  can  tell  you  to  a  dot, 
Stetson  true  to  every  letter, 
Willett,  of  whom, — well, — no  matter, 
Richards  and  Howson  next  came  on, 
Followed  soon  by  Farrington ; 


34 


SOI  WEN  I R  HISTORY. 


dim. 


T.  Snowdon  Thomas  next  we  see, — 
Edson,  the  first  whose  years  were  three; 
A  roaring  Lyon  followed  him — 
McKeown,  whose  eyes  with  tears  were 
Our  Lordly  King,  gave  place  full  soon 
To  gentle,  loving,  true  Mattoon. 
For  three-score  years  these  men  of  God 
Have  nobly  for  the  Master  stood, 
Proclaimed  the  truth  with  heart  and  voice, 
While  sinners  made  the  happy  choice; 
Gave  God  their  heart,  the  church  their  home, 
And  helped  to  spread  the  holy  flame. 
This  grand  old  church  now  housed  so  well 
Has  done  a  work  no  man  can  tell, 
Some  say  she's  left  the  Godly  ways 
The  fathers  trod  in  other  days; 
Is  fond  of  what  the  worldling  brings, 
Socials  and  fairs  and  other  things. 
I  fear  'tis  "true  for  I've  lived  to  see 
This  church  given  up  to  an  Applebee. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CHILMARK,  MASS. 

Methodism  was  first  introduced  into  Chilmark  by  John  Sanders 
in  1787.  He  was  a  fugitive  slave  who  found  a  refuge  on  the  island, 
and,  being  a  local  preacher,  used  his  gifts.  In  1795  Jesse  Lee  visited 
the  island  and  preached  in  Chilmark. 

In  the  autumn  of  1797  the  Rev.  Joshua  Hall,  a  member  of  Con- 
ference, was  appointed  to 
this  island,  and  preached 
monthly  in  Vineyard 
Haven  and  the  town  of 
Chilmark.  In  Chilmark  he 
formed  a  class  of  six  per- 
sons with  the  Hon.  Benja- 
min Basset,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  County 
Court,  as  leader.  The 
judge's  house  and  that  of 
venerable  William  Tilton, 
another  of  the  six,  became 
the  homes  of  the  preachers 
when  in  this  town,  and  for 
the  time  being  their  preaching  places  as  well. 

Before  this  year  closed  the  class  numbered  ten.  In  September, 
1798,  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling  became  the  successor  of  Rev.  Joshua  Hall. 


THE    CHILMARK    CHURCH. 


SOU  I' EX  IK  HISTORY. 


35 


Rev.  Epaphras  Kibby  came  in  1799  and  remained  but  one  quarter. 
After  Mr.  Kibby  there  was  no  regular  preacher  until  1809,  when  Rev. 
Erastus  Otis  visited  the  island  from  his  circuit,  Falmouth. 

The  following  year,  1810,  Mr.  Otis  preached  here,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  Benjamin  Basset,  Silas  Hillman,  and  Shadrach  Robin- 
son, laymen,  the  class  was  revived. 

The  records  of  this  church  begin  with  this  year  and  show  a  mem- 
bership of  twelve.  In  1811  the  Conference  appointed  to  the  island 
Rev.  William  Hinman.  In  Chilmark  preaching  services  were  held 
in  dwelling  houses  and  in  an  old  weaving  mill  until  1827. 

The  house  in  which  the  first  Methodist  meeting  was  held  is  still 
standing  opposite  the  parsonage. 

In  1827  a  meeting-house  was  purchased  from  the  Methodists 
of  Edgartown  and  moved  to  Chilmark.  This  served  their  purpose 
until  1843,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  new  and  more  commodious 
building,  which  is  our  present  place  of  worship.  Gracious  revivals 
have  attended  this  church  from  time  to  time.  In  1812  twenty-six 
were  added  to  the  church,  making  its  membership  thirty-eight.  Dur- 
ing the  following  ten  years  (from  1812  to  '22}  there  were  only  three 
additions  to  the  membership.  From  1823  to  '33  there  were  twenty- 
nine  additions  to  the  church.  During  the  years  from  1833  to  '43  sev- 
enty-one united  with  the  church.  From  1843  to  '53  thirty-seven  were 
received  into  full  membership.  From  1853  to  '63  forty-six  joined  the 
church.  From  1863  to  '73  sixty-eight  were  added  to  the  list  of  mem- 
bers. From  1873  to  '83  thirty-five  joined  in  full  connection.  During 
the  time  from  1883  to  '96  forty-six  joined  the  church. 

Some  of  those  who  found  Christ  at  the  altar  of  this  church 
became  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  two  of  whom  we  mention, — Rev. 
Caleb  L.  Rotch,  now  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  Stough- 
ton,  Maas.,  and  Rev.  William  A.  Cottle,  who  died  in  the  faith  three 
years  since.  This  church  from  its  beginning  has  had  strong  men 
and  women,  and  under  their  care  has  had  an  enviable  record.  While 
two  other  churches  have  gone  to  decay,  it  still  lives  and  has  a  mem- 
bership of  one  hundred  and  four.  The  Sunday  School  numbers 
fifty-seven  and  is  in  good  condition,  under  the  direction  of  Russell 
Hancock  as  superintendent.  All  departments  of  work  are  well  cared 
for  in  this  church  by  a  faithful  official  board. 

PASTORS. 

1810.  Erastus  Otis  1815.  Benjamin  Haselton 

1811.  William  Hinman  1816.  Shipley  W.  Wilson 

1812.  Edward   Hyde  1817.  Thomas  W.  Tucker 

1813.  William  Frost  1818.  Shipley  W.  Wilson 

1814.  John  W.  Hardy  1819-20.  Eleazer  Steel 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1821-22.     John  Adams 

1823.  Francis  Dane,    Freder- 

ick Upham,  colleague 

1824.  Edward      T.      Taylor, 

William    Allen,    col- 
league 

1825.  Daniel  Culver,  removed 


REV.    J.    S.    BELL. 

1825-27.     John  Adams  and  Caleb 
Lamb 

1828.  William  Barstow 

1829.  Hezekiah  Thatcher 
1830-31.     Thomas  G.  Brown 

1832.  Louis  Janson 

1833.  This    church    separated 

from  Vineyard  Haven 

1834.  Philip  Crandon 


1836. 

1837. 

1838. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842. 

1843. 

1844. 

1845-46. 

1847. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850-51. 

1852-53. 

1854-55. 

1856.    ' 

1857. 

1858-59. 

1860. 

1861-62. 

1863-65. 

1866-68. 

1869-70. 

1871-73. 

1874.   * 

1  875-77. 

1878-80. 

1881-83. 

1884-86. 

1887-88. 

1889-91. 

1892-94. 

1895. 

1896— 


James  Bicknell 
Elijah  Willard 
Joseph  Brown 
None 

Otis  Wilder 
Thomas  D.  Blake 
Charles  D.  Cushman 
Ebenezer  Ewins 
William  Nan  scorn 
George  W.  Wooding 
Nahun  Tainter 
O-  P-  Farrington 
Henry  Mayo 
Lewis  Bates 
Thomas  Slater 
Robert  McGonegal 
John  Tasker 
William  E.  Sheldon 
John  F.  Fogg 
Franklin  Sears 
James  H.  Cooley 
George  D.  Boynton 
Abel  Alton 
Josiah  C.  Allen 
Seth  B.  Chace 

D.  J.  Griffin 

B.  K.  Bosworth 

E.  S.  Fletcher 
Heflin  S.  Smith 
Isaac  C.  Sherman 
John  N.  Patterson 
Winfield  Hall 

C.  T.  Hatch 
C.  S.  Thurber 
B.  K.  Bosworth 
J.  S.  Bell 


Trustees — Sanderson  M.  Mayhew,  A.  L.  Tilton.  E.  C.  Flanders, 
"C.  C.  Look,  R.  Hancock,  S.  Flanders,  O.  Stewart,  F.  A.  Mayhew. 

Stewards — Ely  C.  Flanders,  Russell  Hancock,  Ainsworth  L.  Til- 
ton,  Stephen  Flanders,  Onslow  Stewart,  Fred.  A.  Mayhew,  Francis 
H.  Reed,  Hertford  C.  Mayhew,  Crandon  C.  Look. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent — Russell  Hancock. 


P.  S.— Pictures  of  the  Chilmark  Parsonage  and  of  Hon.  E.  C.  Flanders  came 
too  late  to  be  Inserted  here,  but  will  be  found  at  the  close  of  the  volume,  with 
others  that  came  too  late.— THE  EDITOR. 


THE  COTTAGE  CITY  CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  COTTAGE  CITY,  MASS. 

This  church  organization 
grew  out  of  the  constantly 
increasing  permanent  popu- 
lation of  the  Vineyard 
Grove  Camp  Ground. 

After  camp-meeting  fami- 
lies would  remain  for 
weeks.  In  a  few  years 
some  of  these  families  be- 
came permanent  residents. 
Each  year  the  number  of 
permanent  residents  at 
"Vineyard  Grove"  in- 
creased. Here  they  were 
without  either  preaching 
services  or  Sabbath  School 
until  1870,  when  Rev.  J.  D. 
King,  their  real  estate 
agent,  organized  a  Sabbath 
School,  superintended  it 
and  also  secured  a  library.  Through  his  efforts,  Rev.  William  Live- 
sey  was  sent  to  look  after  the  work  in  October,  1871,  the  "Camp- 
meeting  Association"  and  Vineyard  Grove  Company"  pledging  $300 
to  the  support  of  preaching.  Mr.  King  assuming  the  balance  on  the 
basis  of  $1,000  salary. 

The  congregation  at  this  time  was  union  in  name,  a  number  of 
denominations  being  represented,  but  no  church  organization. 
Membership  was  held  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Livcsey  was  re-appointed  to  the  "Vineyard  Grove  Station"  in 

1872.  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  Upham  was  appointed  to  this  station  in 

1873,  and  Rev.  E.  H.  Hatfield  in  1874.     Mr.  Hatfield  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh  in  1876. 

Under  Mr.  Marsh  a  climax  was  reached.  A  gracious  revival 
broke  out,  in  the  midst  of  which  a  considerable  number  of  Baptist  peo- 
ple, who  had  hitherto  worshipped  with  the  Methodists,  withdrew  and 
effected  the  organization  of  a  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Marsh,  then  in  his 
eightieth  year,  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and  so  was  obliged  to  give 
up  the  work.  But  the  church  continued  to  prosper  notwithstanding 
the  division. 

Rev.  Dr.  George  M.  Hamlen,  now  President  of  Mallalieu  Semi- 
nary, Ala.,  succeeded  Mr.  Marsh  in  1877;  and  on  April  15,  1877,  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  D.  King,  organized  a  Methodist  class,  with  about  forty  mem- 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


ber3.  The  organization  took  place  in  Captain  Joseph  Dias'  dining- 
room.  At  this  time  they  had  no  church  edifice  so  worshipped  in  a 
hall  over  the  '"Star"  office;  also  in  a  hall  over  the  Post  Office. 

On  June  3,   1877,  the   church  was  formally   organized   and  the 

sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  administered  to  the  "Vineyard 
Grove  M.  E.  Church." 

During  Dr.  Hamlen's  pastorate 
of  three  years  (1877-80),  Trinity 
M.  E.  Church  was  built,  at  a  cost 
of  about  $10,000.  Since  that  time 
Grace  Chapel  and  a  fine  parsonage 
have  been  built. 

In  1880  the  church  was  without 
a  pastor  from  conference  time  to 
July  9,  when  Presiding  Elder  J.  W. 
Willett  appointed  Rev.  F.  P. 
Parkin,  who  served  the  church 
until  September  5,  1881,  when  he 
resigned  to  finish  his  course  in 
Drew  Theological  Seminary.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Fred  O. 
Holman,  who  in  the  middle  of  the 

conference  year  of  1882  was  obliged  to  give  up  because  of  his  health. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Switzer  was  appointed  to  fill  out  the  year,  but  after  three 
Sundays  he  too  gave  up  because  of  poor  health  and  Rev.  L.  B.  Cod- 
ding was  secured  to  finish  out  the  year. 

The  Conference  of  1883  re-appointed  Rev.  F.  P.  Parkin,  he  hav- 
ing completed  his  course  at  Drew  Theological  Seminary.  In  the 
spring  of  1885,  Mr.  Parkin  was  succeeded  by  Rev  J.  F.  Cooper,  who 
i-trvfd  the  church  until  the  close  of  the  Conference  year  1887. 

From  1888  to  1889  Rev.  W.  E.  Kugler  was  pastor.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  G.  W.  Elmer  in  1890. 

From  1891  to  1893  Rev.  W.  L.  Hood  was  pastor.  Mr.  Hood's 
pastorate  was  very  successful.  Here  he  found  his  valuable  "Help- 
u.eet."  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  R.  E.  Schuh  in  1894.  Mr.  Schuh 
served  the  church  well  for  two  years  and  he  too  found  a  "Help-meet" 
in  Cottage  City. 

In  1896  Rev.  N.  C.  Alger  was  appointed  to  this  charge,  but 
owing  to  his  wife's  health,  was  constrained  to  give  up  in  December 
1896,  and  Rev.  W.  F.  Taylor,  the  present  pastor  was  appointed  by 
T.  J.  Everett,  presiding  elder,  to  fill  out  the  year,  and  was  re-appointed 
here  at  the  last  Conference  session. 


REV.   W.    F.    TAYLOR  AND  WIFE. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


39 


PASTORS. 


THE  TAYLOR  TWIN  BABIES. 

1871-72.     William  Livesey 


^74-75- 

1876 

1877-79. 

1880-81. 

1882 

1882 

1882 

1883-84. 

1885-87. 

1888-89. 

1890 

1891-93. 

1  804-95. 

1896 

1896— 


Frederick  Upham 

E.  H.  Hatfield. 
Joseph  Marsh 
G.  M.  Hamlen 

F.  P.  Parkin 

F.  O.  Holman 

G.  G.  Switzer 
L.  B.  Codding 

F.  P.  Parkin 
J.  F.  Cooper 
W.  E.  Kngler 

G.  W.  Elmer 
W.  L.  Hood 
R.  E.  Schuh 
N.  C.  Alger 
W.  F.  Tavlor 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stwarris—  S.  H.  Norton,  E.  G.  Elbridge  (D.  S.).  J.  L.  Mayhevv 
(R.  S.),  W.  B.  Devoll,  J.  C.  Hamlen,  Leavitt  Mayhew,  Mrs.  A.  D. 
Vedder  and  Mrs.  H.  H.  Rice. 

Trustees — S.  H.  Norton,  Hiram  Daggett  and  J.  E.  Hamlen. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  L.  Mayhew. 

Epworth  League — President,  William  Givens. 

Junior  League — President,  Mrs.  C.  Look. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  DIGHTON,  MASS. 

On  the  evening  of  January  10,  1859,  Rev.  John  Q.  Adams,  a  local 
preacher  who  was  laboring  secularly  in  Dighton,  preached  his  first 
sermon  at  Broad  Cove,  Dighton.  The  indications  were  so  good  that 
meetings  were  continued,  some  twenty-five  being  converted  during  the 
winter. 

A  class  was  formed  which  at  first  was  connected  with  Somerset 
church.  Later  the  members  were  transferred  to  the  North  Dighton 
church  on  account  of  difficulties  in  the  Somerset  church. 

In  March,  1866,  an  energetic  effort  was  made  to  establish  a 
Methodist  church  at  Dighton  village.  An  application  was  sent  into 
Conference  for  a  preacher  to  be  stationed  there,  and  James  A.  Dean 
was  sent.  The  prospect  was  not  very  encouraging.  Only  about  $400 
was  assured  for  support,  and  no  parsonage.  The  Dighton  Academy 
was  secured  for  a  meeting-house.  This  served  as  the  church  building 
until  1893. 


4o  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  Dighton  church  was  preached  April  8, 
1866,  the  congregation  increasing  in  six  weeks  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty  or  thirty. 

The  church  was  organized  on  May  13,  1866,  and  reported  at  con- 
ference twenty-six  members  and  one  probationer. 

Up  to  1872  the  prospects  for  a  growing  church  were  good,  but 
general  depression  in  business  caused  many  to  leave  Dighton  in 
search  of  temporal  things. 

The  failure  or  departure  of  manufacturing  interests  has  left  the 
village  with  little  increase  of  population.  There  being  few  promising 


THE   DIGHTON   CHURCH. 

openings  for  young  men,  has  caused  many  of  the  best  to  leave  in 
search  of  better  opportunities.  The  church  has  sustained  herself  with 
varying  success  through  the  years,  sometimes  the  pulpit  being  sup- 
plied by  a  student  from  Boston  University  or  local  preacher,  some- 
times by  members  of  Conference.  Some  years  the  church  has  been 
visited  by  gracious  seasons  of  revival;  others  Lave  been  years  of  sow- 
ing and  tilling,  with  little  visible  fruit. 

In  1892,  Rev.  C.  T.  Hatch  was  sent  to  Dighton  by  the  Con- 
ference, and  almost  immediately  began  agitating  the  building  of  a  much 
needed  new  church.  Little  encouragement  was  given  him  by  the 
people  of  the  church,  they  not  being  able  to  see  where  the  necessary 
funds  were  coming  from.  Mr.  Hatch  deserves  much  credit  for  per- 
severing in  the  work  until  the  building  was  completed.  Mr.  George 
Walker  of  Taunton  helped  both  in  influence  and  means  to  encourage 
Mr.  Hatch. 

On  December  14,  1893,  the  dedicatory  services  were  held,  in 
charge  of  Presiding  Elder  Ela.  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Payne  preached 
the  sermon  and  raised  $3,200,  thus  leaving  the  church  with  no  debt 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


but  what  was  covered  by  good  pledges.  The  new  church  is  a  beauti- 
ful structure  of  suitable  size,  well  located,  convenient  in  arrangement, 
nicely  furnished  and  equipped.  The  cost  of  this  building  was  $5,400, 
but  could  not  be  built  again  for  that  money.  Dighton  needs  nothing 
now  but  people  to  make  a  flourishing  church. 


REV.  JEROME  GREER. 


PASTORS. 

1866-68. 
1868-69. 
1869-72. 
1872-74. 

I874-75- 

'875-77- 

1877-79. 

1879-82. 

1882-84. 

1884-85. 

1885-86. 

1886-87. 

1887-88. 

1888-92. 

1892-94. 

1894-95. 

1895-96. 

1896 

1897— 


James  A.  Dean 
JI.  H.  Smith 
Stephen  O.  Benton 
A.  E.  Hall 
V.  W.  Mattoon 

D.  L.  Brown 
J.  Livesey 

L.  P.  Causey 
Francis  D.  Sargent 
Thomas  Simms 
C.  A.  Littlefield 
John  Thompson 
J.  H.  Buckey 
W.  D.  Wilkinson 
C.  T.  Hatch 
Robert  Clark 
C.  B.  Allen 

E.  S.  Collier 
Jerome  Greer 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stcivards — Eben  F.  Andrews  (R.  S.),  Joseph  Pitts  (D.  S.),  Daniel 
D.  Andrews,  Joseph  T.  Horton,  O.  P.  Simmons,  Earl  S.  Ashley,  Forest 
A  Whitmarsh. 

Trustees — Eben  F.  Andrews,  Daniel  Andrews,  Forest  A.  Whit- 
marsh,  Joseph  Pitts,  Charles  Chace,  Edmond  Hathaway,  Earl  S. 
Ashley. 

Treasurer — Thurber  Wood. 

Librarian — J.  W.  Andrews. 

Assistant  Librarian — Miss  Anna  Carr. 

Teachers — Eben  F.  Andrews,  Daniel  Andrews,  Miss  May  An- 
drews, Mrs.  Alexander  Swift,  Miss  Anna  Davis,  Miss  Nellie  Pitts. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  BRIDGEWATER,  MASS. 


In  the  year  1856.  R.  M.  Smith,  a  local  deacon,  disposed  of  his 
business  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  and  moved  to  the  town  of  East  Bridge- 
water.  There  were  at  that  time  a  few  Methodist  families  in  the  town 
worshipping  in  the  other  churches,  and  also  a  small  band  of  Method- 
ists in  the  village  of  Xorthville, 
in  the  northerly  part  of  the  town, 
called  the  South  Abington  Mis- 
sion. 

During  the  year  Mr.  Smith 
convened  the  Methodist  families 
and  secured  sufficient  encourage- 
ment to  apply  to  the  Providence 
Annual  Conference  in  the  spring 
of  1857  for  the  appointment  of  a 
minister  to  this  charge. 

In  response  to  that  call,  Rev. 
Carlos  Banning  was  appointed 
by  Bishop  Janes  to  East  Bridge- 
water,  with  an  appropriation  of 
$100  from  the  "Conference  Mis- 
sionary Society."  Mr.  Smith  had 
established  at  his  house  prayer 
and  class  meetings,  and  the 
society  was  in  working  order 
when  the  pastor  arrived. 

At  that  time  there  was  an  unoccupied  Universalist  church  in  the 
village,  which  Mr.  Smith  leased  for  a  term  of  years,  and  thus  the 
new  Methodist  Society  was  provided  with  a  place  of  worship. 

Mr.  Banning  took  up  his  work  as  pastor  immediately,  preaching 
his  first  sermon  to  the  people  in  April,  1857,  and  organized  a  Sunday- 
school  the  same  day,  with  Mr.  William  B.  Hall  as  Superintendent. 

At  the  first  communion,  held  the  first  Sunday  in  May,  the  follow- 
ing persons  gathered  around  the  Lord's  table:  R.  M.  Smith,  Augusta 
Smith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waldo  Hay  ward,  Francis  Hay  ward,  Hannah 
Hayward,  Samuel  F.  White,  Rebecca  H.  WThite,  Jane  M.  Clark,  Alan- 
son  Estes,  Abigail  Estes,  Matilda  Banning,  Harriet  Robinson,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dyer,  C.  H.  Brown,  and  Wm.  B.  Hall. 

The  gracious  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  felt  in  all  the 
religious  services  and  there  were  several  conversions. 

The  following  November  Rev.  A.  B.  Earle  was  secured  as  an 
evangelist  to  assist  the  pastor.  He  continued  his  labors  for  six  weeks. 


THE  EAST  BRIDGEWATER  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


43 


the  result  of  this  united  effort  being  the  conversion  of  over  200,  about 

150  of  whom  joined  the  church  on  probation. 

The  attractive  and  commodious  church  edifice  was  built  during 

the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Payne,  and  dedicated  in  Feb.   1861,  the 

dedicatory  sermon  be- 
ing preached  by  Rev. 
E.  O.  Haven,  D.  D., 
afterwards  elected 
Bishop. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Sheffield 
was  largely  instru- 
mental in  raising  the 
debt  which  had  re- 
mained up  to  the  time 
cf  his  pastorate  upon 
the  church  edifice, 
which  was  a  great  re- 

EAST  BRIDGEWATER  PARSONAGE.  ""       tO       tne       Society. 

About     the     close     of 

Rev.   H.   H.   Martin's   pastorate  the   society  purchased   the   property 
which  has  ever  since  been  enjoyed  by  its  pastors  as  a  parsonage. 


REV.    N.    B.   COOK. 


MRS.    N.    B.    COOK. 


At  the  First  Quarterly  Conference,  held  June  n,  1871,  Rev.  S.  A. 
Winsor,  the  pastor,  reported:  "We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  being  the 
first  occupant  of  the  parsonage.;  it  is  in  every  way  fitted  to  make  a 
pleasant  home  for  those  who  may  be  sent  to  this  charge  for  years  to 
come." 

During  Rev.  G.  W.  Ballou's  pastorate  there  was  a  marked  revival 
and  about  fifty  conversions. 


44 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


For  twenty  years  we  find  no  extensive  revival  reported,  but  during- 

each  pastorate  some  conversions,, 
and  the  church  is  still  a  thrifty  vine 
of  God's  planting. 

Mr.  Cyrus  Washburn,  a  Meth- 
odist layman  of  Wellesley  Hills,  a 
native  of  East  Bridgewater,  has  re- 
cently presented  the  town  with  a 
handsome  public  library,  as  shown 
in  the  accompanying  engraving. 
It  is  near  this  church  and  will  be 
a  valuable  addition  to  the  charge. 
Mr.  Washburn  will  receive  the 
lasting  gratitude  of  the  town  for 
his  generosity. 


WASHBURN  LIBRARY. 


1857-58. 

1859-60. 

I86I-62. 

I863 

1864-66. 

1867-68. 

1869-70. 

1871-72. 

1872-74. 


Carlos  Banning 
Chas.  H.  Payne 
Wm.  H.  Stetson 
John  W.  Willett 
W.  F.  Farrington 
John  F.  Sheffield 
Henry  H.  Martin 
S.  A.  Winsor  (in  part) 
Geo.  W.  Anderson 


PASTORS. 

I875-77- 

1878-80. 

1881-82. 

1883-85. 

1886-88. 

1889-91. 

1892 

1893-96. 

1897  — 


George  W.  Ballou 
Wm.  J.  Smith 
Frederick  A.  Crafts 
Ephraim  S.  Fletcher 
Richard  Burn 
John  N.  Geisler 
Lucius  H.  Massey 
Melville  B.  Wilson 
N.  B.  Cook 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— Wm.  B.  Hall,  President;  Chas.  R.  Beals,  Wm.  H. 
Taylor,  Sec.  and  Treas.;  Frank  M.  Fisher,  Chas.  E.  Ellis,  Geo.  H. 
Elwell,  Jno.  Burgess,  Alton  E.  Brett,  J.  Fred  Fisher. 

Stnvards—G.  H.  Elwell  (District),  C.  R.  Beals,  W.  H.  Taylor 
(R.),  F.  W.  Newhall,  Jno.  Burgess,  Everett  Hayward,  C.  E.  Ellis, 
J.  F.  Fisher,  A.  E.  Brett,  A.  S.  Brett,  F.  M.  Fisher,  Mrs.  H.  R.  Rich- 
ards, Mrs.  E.  F.  Fisher. 

Sunday  School — Wm.  H.  Taylor,  Supt. ;  Chas.  R.  Beals,  Ass't 
Supt. ;  Esther  Taylor,  Sec.  and  Treas.;  Geo.  H.  Elwell,  Librarian. 

Teachers — Mrs.  H.  R.  Richards,  Mrs.  M.  Anise  Hall,  Miss  Carrie 
H.  Allen,  Frank  M.  Fisher,  Wm.  B.  Hall,  Mrs.  Charlotte  Leach,  Mrs. 
S.  Evelina  Bragdon. 

Epworth  League,  Geisler  Chapter  668 — Geo.  W.  Skillings,  Presi- 
dent; Alton  E.  Brett,  First  V.  P.;  Mrs.  M.  Annie  Cole,  Second  V.  P.; 
Fred  E.  Brag-don,  Third  V.  P.;  Mrs.  S.  Evelina  Bragdon,  Fourth 
V.  P.;  Miss  Carrie  H.  Allen,  Secretary;  Geo.  H.  Elwell,  Treasurer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  FALMOUTH,  MASS. 
By  Miss  Hattie  B.  Gifford. 

The  early  Methodists  at  East  Falmouth  were  obliged  to  worship 
in  the  schoolhouse  until  in  the  year  1859,  when  a  church  was  erected 
through  the  untiring  efforts  of  Captain  John  Tobey,  the  cost  being 
$1,850,  he  paying  over  one-half  the  amount.  It  was  dedicated  Nov. 

30,  1859.  The  dedicatory  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Andrew  Mc- 
Keown,  from  text  Phil.  ii-6.  The 
church  was  held  by  a  building 
committee  until  1883,  when  it  was 
made  over  to  the  trustees. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Abel 
Alton,  and  as  nearly  as  can  be 
learned,  there  were  about  fifteen 
members,  only  two  of  whom  are 
now  living.  They  are  both  serving 
on  the  board  of  stewards  at  the 
present  time.  The  church  has  been 
visited  several  times  with  special  re- 
vivals and  numbers  have  been 
added,  so  that  the  membership  at 
the  present  date  is  about  53. 
Among  the  many  devoted  pastors 

W7ho  have  served  this  church  was  Rev.  John  Fish,  one  of  the  most 
consecrated  ministers  of  his  time.  During  one  period  of  his  ministry 
he  taught  the  village  school  in  addition  to  his  pastoral  duties. 

The  pastorate  of  H.  G.  Budd,  a  student  of  Boston  University, 
was  marked  by  general  prosperity,  spiritually  and  financially.  The 
work  in  all  departments  has  greatly  prospered  under  the  labors  of 
C.  S.  Thurber,  a  man  filled  with  the  spirit  of  God. 


OUTH   CHURCH. 


PASTORS. 

1859.  Abel  Alton  1880. 

1 860-61.  Franklin  Sears 

1862.  Lawton  Cady  1881. 

1863-64.  Stephen  Y.  Wallace  1882. 

1865-67.  John  Fish  1883. 

1868.  Franklin  Sears 

1869.  Robert  Macy  1884-86. 
1870-71.  Charles  Stokes  1886-87. 
1872-74.  John  Fish  1888-89. 
1875.  Benj.  L.  Sayer;  W.  C.  1890. 

Wilbur  finished  1891. 

1876-77.  Richard  Burn  1892-93. 

1878.  Tell  A.  Turner  1894. 

1879.  Rev.  Mr.  Bessey  T895-97- 


Daniel  Griffin  and 
Henry  Hamblin 

Henry  Hamblin 

John  McVay 

Rev.  Mr.  Whitney; 
finished  by  W.  Millar 

Isaac  Sherman 

Supplied  by  students  * 

J.  B.  Washburn 

L.  H.  Massey 

W.  H.  Whelan 

H.  G.  Budd 

B.  K.  Bosworth 

C.  S.  Thurber 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EASTHAM,  MASS. 

The  origin  of  Methodism  in  Eastham  was  the  outgrowth  of  a 
camp-meeting  held  in  Wellfleet,  Aug.  19,  1819.  It  was  the  first  camp- 
meeting  ever  held  on  Cape  Cod,  and  was  attended  by  a  number  of 
persons  from  Eastham,  many  of  whom  returned  feeling  deeply 


THE    EASTHAM    CHURCH. 

convinced  of  their  need  of  salvation,  which  fact  they  made  known  to 
their  neighbors,  with  the  result  that  the  awakening  became  extensive, 
so  that  penitent  souls  from  every  part  of  the  town  were  brought  to 
the  "knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  their  sins." 

The  influence  of  the  camp-meeting  was  followed  by  the  faithful 
labors  of  Rev.  E.  Wiley,  preacher  in  charge  of  Wellfleet  circuit.  The 
converts  became  probationers,  and  members  of  a  class  in  Wellfleet. 
They,  with  many  others,  were  subsequently  formed  into  two  distinct 
classes,  under  charge  of  Pastor  Wiley,  and  formed  part  of  Wellfleet 
circuit.  The  first  class  leaders  were  Thomas  Cobb  and  James  Hick- 
man. 

At  the  next  session  of  New  England  Conference,  held  June,  1820, 
Rev.  Edward  Hyde  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge  of  Wellfleet 
circuit.  The  next  year  (1821)  Mr.  Hyde  was  re-appointed  to  the  same 
charge  in  connection  with  Rev.  Herman  Perry.  The  former  came  to 
reside  in  Eastham.  This  was  a  year  of  marked  prosperity.  On  one 
"class  paper"  of  this  date  were  found  the  names  of  60  members. 
During  the  same  years  the  "Meeting-House"  was  built. 

Pratt,  in  his  History  of  Eastham,  says:  "In  1821  the  Methodist 
Meeting-House  was  built.  It  is  a  neat  and  commodious  house,  suffi- 
ciently large  to  accommodate  all  who  belong  to  the  society  and  attend 
the  meetings,  being  at  the  present  time  nearly  two-thirds  of  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  1822  the  circuit  was  in  charge  of  Revs.  H.  Perry  and  L.  Ben- 
nett. Rev.  E.  Hyde  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  Boston  district, 
and  in  his  official  capacity  visited  the  society  quarterly,  much  to  its 
pleasure  and  profit. 

The   church   in    its    early   history  was   favored   with   the   "pious 


THE     EASTHAM    PARSONAGE. 


instruction  and  Godly  councils"  of  Rev.  George  Pickering,  a  name  dear 
to  all   New   England   Methodists.     He  was   Presiding   Elder  of  the 


REV.    WILLIAM   KIRKBY. 


MRS.     WILLIAM    KIRKBY. 


district  at  the  time  the  society  laid  the  foundation  for  their  "House  of 
Worship." 

At  the  session  of  New  England  Conference,  held  June,  1823,  the 
connection  of  this  society  with  Wellfleet  circuit  was — (as  per  request 


SOUVENIR   HISTORY. 


49 


of  the  last  quarterly  meeting) — dissolved,  and  Eastham  was  made  a 
separate  station. 

Rev.  Nathan  Paine  was  appointed  to  the  charge  as  the  first 
stationed  preacher  for  Eastham,  and  remained  pastor  two  years.  At 
this  time  the  church  had  118,  and  in  1844  it  had  increased  to  185 
members. 

The  present  commodious  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1851,  on 
the  site  of  the  old  "Meeting-house,"  at  a  cost  of  $4,900,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  Leonard.  The  congregations  were  at  this  time 
said  to  have  averaged — in  good  weather — 200,  and  the  church  was  in 
prosperous  circumstances. 

But  this  church,  in  common  with  other  churches  on  Cape  Cod  has 
sustained  heavy  losses  by  removals  and  death  of  many  members  who 
were  of  great  value  to  the  church  in  its  progressive  warfare  against 
the  "Powers  of  darkness,"'  and  accomplishment  of  its  divine  mission. 

If  space  would  permit  many  interesting  facts  might  be  mentioned 
concerning  this  old  church  and  the  faithful  pastors  who  have  served  it. 
Few  churches  have  a  nobler  record. 


1823-24. 

1825 

1826-27. 

1828 

1829-30. 

1831-32 

1833 

I834-35- 

1836-37- 

1838 

1839-40. 

1841 

1842-43. 

1844-45. 

1846 

1847 

1848-49. 

1850-51. 

1852 

1853 
1854 

1855-56. 


PASTORS. 

Nathan  Paine  1857-58. 

E.  K.  A  very  1859-60. 

Benjamin  Keith  1861-62. 

Fred'k  Upham  1863-64. 

Joel  Steel  1865-66. 

Hector  Brownson  1867 

Lemuel  Harlow  1868-69. 

T.  G.  Brown  1870 

Warren  Emerson  1871 

Thomas  Ely  1872-73. 

Josiah  Litch  1874 

E.  W.  Jackson  1875-76. 

Onesiphorus  Robbins  1877-78. 

Henry  Smith  ^79 

Joseph  Macreading  1880-82. 

Samuel  Fox  1883-84. 

Dixon  Stebbins  1885-87. 

William  Leonard  1888-89. 

Anthony  Palmer  1890-93. 

Thomas  D.  Blake  1894 

Wm.  H.  Stetson  1895  - 
George  Btirnham 


Abel  Allton 
Edward  B.  Hinckley 

B.  K.  Bosworth 

C.  Hammond 
Benjamin  L.  Sayer 
Francis  A.  Loomis 
John  S.  Fish 
Lawton   Cady 
George  S.  Macomber 
Eben  Tirrell,  Jr. 
John  Cooper 

John  S.  Fish 
Charles  N.  Hinckley 
Philo  Hawkes 
Frank  Bowler 
S.  F.  Harriman 
Martin  T.  Braley 
Samuel  Fox 
George  E.  Dunbar 
Charles  Smith 
William  Kirkby 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Heman  S.  Gill,  Thomas  H.  Gill,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Cole, 
Mrs.  Winslow  Horton,  Henry  Harding,  Geo.  H.  Clark,  Oliver  Mayo, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Gill,  Joseph  F.  Mayo. 


50  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Stewards—  Heman  S.  Gill,  T.  K.  Gill  (D.  S.),  Mrs.  Winslow  Hor- 
ton,  Mrs.  Edward  Clark,  Mrs.  Simeon  Perry,  Geo.  H.  Clark  (R.  S.), 
Miss  Jemima  Clark,  Henry  Harding,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Cole. 

Class  Leaders — Mrs.  Mary  E.  Cole,  Henry  Harding. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Henry  Harding;  Asst.  Superin- 
tendent, Arthur  C.  Perry;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Almena  L. 
Beaver;  Asst.  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Geo.  H.  Clark;  Librarian,  Wil- 
bur S.  Cole;  Asst.  Librarians,  William  F.  Knowles,  Henry  D.  Smith. 

Teachers — Miss  Ella  L.  Mayo,  Mrs.  Henry  Harding,  Mrs.  Thomas 
K.  Gill,  Simeon  Perry,  Mrs.  Simeon  Perry,  Geo.  H.  Clark,  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  Cole,  Mrs.  Austin  E.  Cole,  Rev.  W.  Kirkby,  Mrs.  Winslow  Horton. 

Epivorth  League — President,  Rev.  W.  Kirkby;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Miss  Emma  J.  Higgins;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Ella  L. 
Mayo;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs.  William  Kirkby;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Miss  Matul  F.  Ellison. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EDGARTOWN,  MASS. 

In  1809,  Rev.  Erastus  Otis  visited  Martha's  Vineyard.  He 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  Edgartown  in  a  house  provided  by  Mrs. 
Xaomi  Beecher,  a  cousin  of  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher.  She  and  a  Miss 
Love  Stewart, who,  several  years  before,  was  converted  in  Maine,  under 

the  labors  of  Rev.  Timothy 
Merritt,  were  the  only  Meth- 
odists in  town.  The  preach- 
ing of  Mr.  Otis  was  very  dif- 
ferent from  what  the  town 
people  had  been  accustomed 
to,  but  he  had  hearers.  Miss 
Stewart's  father  consented  to 
open  his  house  as  a  preaching- 
place.  For  awhile  Mr.  Otis 
taught  school  in  Edgartown, 
and  preached  there  and  at 
other  places  on  the  island, 
and  his  work  was  successful. 
On  Nov.  4,  1809,  he  formed 
the  first  class,  which  consisted 

THE  EDGARTOWN  CHURCH.  of   six    persons,    and    it    pros- 

pered.       Thomas    Stewart,    a 

sailor,    who    had    been    recently    converted,    was    appointed    leader. 
The    new    religion,    as    it    was    called,    brought    on    a    storm    of 


SOU  I7  EN  1R   HISTORY. 


5> 


REV.    J.    HOLLINGSHEAD. 


persecution.  It  was  as  fierce  as  in  the  earliest  days  of 
Methodism.  Recourse  was  had  to  law  and  mob  violence  on  the  part 
of  opposers,  but  they  were  foiled  in  their  efforts.  In  1811  a  site 
was  secured,  and  a  Union  Meeting-house  was  built.  But  in  1821  the 
brethren  sold  their  interest  in  it,  and 
built  one  for  themselves.  This  in 
1827  was  sold  to  the  brethren  in  Chil- 
mark,  and  was  taken  to  pieces  and 
removed  thither.  Another  was  erected, 
which  is  now  the  Town  Hall.  The 
present  large  edifice  was  completed 
and  dedicated  in  1843,  and  m  l&93  its 
semi-centennial  was  fittingly  cele- 
brated. When  the  whaling  business  was 
good,  this  seaport  town  was  prosper- 
ous. The  church  was  in  a  correspond- 
ingly flourishing  condition,  being  one 
of  the  strongest  in  the  Conference. 
The  congregation  was  large.  Our 
ablest  men  filled  the  pulpit,  and 
intellectual  and  devout  men  and 

women  filled  the  pews.  The  services  were  spiritual,  and  front 
time  to  time  the  church  was  visited  with  gracious  revivals  of  religion. 
The  pastor  was  sustained  by  an  active  and  strong  force  of  workers: 
stalwart  Christians,  whose  thoughts  and  words  had  weight.  Among 
the  pastorates  especially  noted  for  revivals  were  those  of  J.  B.  Gould, 
L.  D.  Davis  and  J.  D.  King.  But  the  most  famous  revival  in  the 
history  of  the  church  was  that  which  occurred  in  J.  B.  Gould's  pastor- 
ate, in  1852-53,  which  continued  for  one  hundred  nights  and 
swept  over  the  island  in  Pentecostal  power.  See  account  of  this 
revival  in  special  article  by  the  venerable  J.  B.  Gould  in  another  place 
in  this  volume. 

In  the  community  the  church  has  been  a  power  for  good,  and  has 
sent  out  blessed  influences  over  the  island. 

Strange  to  say,  the  church  never  owned  a  parsonage.  This 
has  been  its  latest  acquisition.  In  June,  1896,  a  good,  convenient, 
and  commodious  house,  on  the  water-front,  was  purchased  for  a 
parsonage.  It  was  bought  for  a  reasonable  price,  and  the  price  was 
paid  before  the  next  session  of  the  Conference,  except  $150.  The 
society  has  now  a  good  church  in  which  to  worship,  and  a  pleasant 
home  for  its  pastor. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1809-10. 

1811 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 

1819-20. 

1821-22. 

1823 

1824 

1825 

1826 

1827 

1828-29. 

1830-31. 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835-36- 

1837-38. 

1839-40. 

1841 

1842-43. 

1844-45. 


PASTORS. 

Erastus  Otis  1846 

William  Kinman  1847 

Edward  Hyde  1848-49. 

John  Frost  1850-51. 

J.  W.  Hardy  1852-53. 

Benjamin  Hazelton  1854 

S.  W.  Wilson  1855-56. 

T.  W.  Tucker  1857-58. 

S.  W.  Wilson  1859-60. 

Eleazer  Steel  1861 

John  Adams  1862-63. 

Frederick  Upham  1864-65. 

Edward  T.  Taylor  1866 

David  N.  Culver  1867 

John  Adams  1868-69. 

Jotham  Horton  1870-72. 

Thomas  C.  Pierce  1 873-75. 

Epaphras  Kibby  1876-78. 

J.  J.  Bliss  1879-81. 

J.  S.  Risley  1882 

Joel  Steele  1883-85. 

J.  C.  Bontecan  1886 

Asa  Kent  1887-90. 

Thomas  Ely  1891-93. 

E.  W.  Stickney  1894-95. 

C.  S.   Macreading  1896  - 
W.  T.  Harlow 


Cyrus  Munger 
1'homas  Ely 
Frederick   Upham 

C.  H.  Titus 
J.  B.  Gould 
William  Kellen 
Sanford  Benton 
William  H.  Stetson 
L.  D.  Davis 
Charles  Nason 

F.  A.  Crafts 
Seth  Reed 
A.  W.  Paige 

G.  W.  Bridge 
A.  J.  Church 

D.  A.  Whedon 
Elisha  Dunham 
S.  M.  Beale 

J.  D.  King 
J.   O.   Thompson 
J.    H.   Humphrey 
Silas  Sprowls 
John  D.  King 
Herman  C.  Scripps 
C.   T.    Hatch 
J.  Hollingshead 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— Dr.  T.  J.  Walker,  B.  T.  Hillman,  E.  W.  Chadwick, 
W.  E.  Marchant,  E.  Gabrielson,  J.  Donaldson,  G.  J.  Hart,  G.  R. 
Ripley. 

Stewards — W.  E.  Marchant,  B.  T.  Hillman,  Eric  Gabrielson,  S.  C. 
Norton,  Allen  Norton,  J.  F.  Norton,  J.  N.  Donaldson,  H.  A.  Pease, 
G.  J.  Hart,  G.  Ripley. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Beriah  T.  Hillman;  Asst.  Super- 
intendent, James  T.  Chadwick;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Maria  Smith; 
Librarian,  P.  N.  Mayhew. 

Teachers — E.  W.  Chadwick,  J.  Hollingshead,  B.  T.  Hillman,  J.  E. 
Chadwick,  G.  J.  Hart,  Caroline  L.  Schofield,  Lucretia  S.  Norton,  Mrs. 
Charles  A.  Norton,  Mrs.  Arthur  C.  Vincent,  Mrs.  Jonathan  Norton, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Stapleford,  Miss  Charlotte  Fisher. 

Superintendent  Home  Department — Mrs.  J.  Hollingshead. 


a 


5  > 
w  o 


•re  r. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  FAIRHAVEN,  MASS. 

Until  Dec.  28,  1829,  the  Methodists  in  Fairhaven  worshipped  with 
the  Elm  Street  M.  E.  Church,  Xew  Bedford.  On  that  date  the  Fair- 
haven  class  requested  that  a  chapel  be  erected  for  their  accom- 
modation. 

In   June,    1830,    the   new    chapel   was   opened   for   worship,   and 

dedicated.  The  sermons  were  by 
Rev.  Orange  Scott  and  Rev.  John 
Lindsey.  Rev.  William  Livesey 
was  appointed  to  the  station  that 
year.  The  society  continued  as  a 
branch  of  the  Elm  Street  Church, 
New  Bedford,  until  1832,  when  it 
was  deemed  expedient  that  the 
Fairhaven  Society  become  a  sep- 
arate organization. 

Aug.  30,  1832,  the  organization 
was  perfected  with  the  following 
as  Trustees:  Joseph  Millett,  James 
Tripp  (2d),  John  P.  Winslow, 
Joseph  P.  Swift,  Joseph  B.  Morse, 
Dennis  McCarthy,  Warren  Max- 
field. 

The  society  continued  to  occupy 
their  house  of  worship  until  the 
spring  of  1849,  when  the  subject  of 
purchasing  the  edifice  left  vacant 

by  the  Centre  Congregational  Society,  was  agitated.  On  April  16, 
1849,  tne  Trustees  reported  that  they  had  "obtained  a  title  to  the 
property  for  the 
use  and  behoof  of 
the  Methodist 

Episcopal  Church." 

??*,> 

This  building  is 
still  used  by  the 
society.  It  is  a 
spacious  w^ooden 
structure,  contain- 
ing auditorium, 
vestry,  class-room 
and  kitchen;  cen- 
trally located  at 
the  corner  of  Cen-  TRE  MILMCENT  LIBRARY. 

ter     and      Walnut 
Streets,   within   the   shadow   of  the   elegant   Town    Hall   and   Public 


THE   FAIRHAVEN   CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


55 


Library.  This  magnificent  new  library,  the  noble  gift  of  H.  H. 
Rogers,  of  New  York,  a  native  of  Fairhaven,  is  situated  nearly  oppo- 
site the  church,  and  makes  this  one  of  the  most  desirable  appoint- 
ments in  the  Conference  for  a  studious  minister. 


THE  FAIRHAVEN  PARSONAGE. 

The  first  meeting-house  still  stands,  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the 
landscape,  on  the  left,  as  one  enters  Fairhaven  from  New  Bedford 
via  the  bridge.  It  was  purchased  by  the  town;  raised,  to  secure  an 
additional  story,  and  fitted  as  a  high  school. 

A  long  list  of  illustrious  men  have  served  this  church.     Many 


REV.  SHERMAN  E.  ELLIS. 


MRS.  SHERMAN  E.  ELLIS. 


glorious  religious  awakenings  have  cheered  the  hearts  of  the  faithful. 
To  speak  in   worthy   terms  of   all   these  pastors,   would  take   a 
volume  alone.     Many  of  them  have  gone  to  their  reward,  but  their 
works  do  follow  them. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1830.  Wm.  Livesey 

1831.  Leonard  Griffin 
1832-33.  Nathan  Paine 

1834.  Lewis  Janson 

1835.  Daniel  K.  Banister 
1836-37.  David  Leslie 
1838.  Henry  Mayo 
1839-40.  Apollos  Hale 
1841-42.  Isaac  Stoddard 

1843.  Nathan  Paine 

1844.  John  W.  Case 

1845.  Daniel  Webb;  supplied 

by  G.  W.  Brewster 

1846-47.  Micah  J.  Talbot,  Jr. 

1848.  Henry  Baylies 

1849-50.  Samuel  C.  Brown 

1851-52.  Horatio  W.  Houghton 

1853-^4.  Richard  Livesey 

1855-56.  William  H.  Richards 

1857.  Bartholomew  Otheman 


JAMES  EDB, 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


1858. 

1859-60. 

I86I-62. 

1863-64. 

1865-67. 

1868-70. 

1871-72. 

1873-74. 

I875-77- 

1878. 

1879. 

1880-82. 

I883. 

1884-85. 

1886-88. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

1893-94. 

1895. 

1896— 


James  M.  Worcester 
John  B.  Husted 
Edward  A.  Lyon 
William  Livesey 
Henry  H.  Smith 
Frederic  Upham 
John  Gray 
Hopkins  B.  Cady 
Geo.  DeB.  Stoddard 
Daniel  C.  Stevenson 
Francis  D.  Sargent 
George  E.  Fuller 
Edward  L.  Hyde 
Henry  J.  Fox 
William  F.  Davis 
W.  Lenoir  Hood 
Nathan  C.  Alger 
George  A.  Sisson 
William  S.  Fitch 
Sherman  E.  Ellis 


MISS  ELIDA  C.  STEVENS, 
Epworth  League  President. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Eben  Akin,  Jr.,  Fred'k  Williams,  Thomas  N.  Reynolds, 
James  Ede,  Cyrus  Peckham. 

Stewards — Alfred  Nye  (Recording),  Eben  Akin,  Jr.,  Fred'k  Will- 
iams, Cyrus  Peckham,  Henry  Shurtleff,  Thomas  N.  Reynolds 
(District),  Samuel  W.  Babbitt,  James  Ede,  Stephen  M.  Allen,  Robert 
H.  Taber,  Lydia  B.  Shurtleff,  Martha  E.  Sampson. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  57 

Class  Leaders—George  E.  Loyd,  R.  H.  Taber. 

Sunday  School—  Superintendent,  Jas.  Ede;  Asst.  Superintendent, 
Miss  L.  F.  Winchester;  Secretary,  Miss  Florence  Howard;  Asst.  Sec- 
retary, Miss  Grace  Nickerson;  Treasurer,  Eben  Akin,  Jr.;  Librarian, 
Miss  Abbie  Williams;  Asst.  Librarians,  Miss  Annie  May  Nye,  Miss 
Alice  P.  Winchester. 

Teachers— Rev.  S.  E.  Ellis,  Robert  H.  Taber,  Mrs.  Ruth  A.  Waltz, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Sylvester,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Ellis,  Miss  Mabel  Bates,  Mrs. 
Eliza  A.  Baker,  Miss  Elida  Carpenter,  Miss  Mary  Macomber,  Mrs. 
Emma  S.  Morse,  Miss  L.  F.  Winchester,  Miss  Sadie  Blaisdell,  Mrs. 
Hannah  F.  Nye,  Miss  Carrie  L.  Shurtleff,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Butman, 
Miss  Martha  E.  Sampson,  Samuel  W.  Babbitt,  Miss  Estelle  Jackson, 
Mrs.  Jessie  E.  Swain,  Mrs.  Lydia  B.  Shurtleff,  Miss  Anna  C.  Taber. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Elida  C.  Stevens;  First  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Bessie  C.  Taber;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Edwin 
F.  Dexter;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Ellis;  Fourth  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss  Anna  C.  Taber;  Secretary,  Miss  Alice  P.  Winchester; 
Treasurer,  James  Ede;  Superintendent,  Junior  League,  Miss  L.  F. 
"Winchester. 


FALL  RIVER  EPWORTH  LEAGUE  UNION. 
By  Rev.  R.  M.  Wilkins. 

The  lack  of  unity  and  hearty  co-operation  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal churches  of  this  city  is  one  of  the  standing  incidents  of  its  his- 
tory.    For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  not  a  mission  has  been 
established  in  any  of  the  outlying  districts  of  this  growing  city.    Other 
religious  sects  have  come  in  and  established  from  one  to  four  missions 
during  that  time.    The  need  of  concentration  of  effort  has  been  appar- 
ent for  a  long  time.     The  Epworth  Leagues  have  taken  the  initiative. 
In  June,  1895,  an  invitation  was  sent  to  all  the  Leagues  of  the  city  by 
the  League  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  for  a  union  meeting  to  devise 
plans  for  a  more  complete  union  of  our  forces  for  larger  success  in 
Christian  work.     The  response  to  the  invitation  was  hearty.     Hon. 
Robert  F.  Raymond  of  New  Bedford  addressed  the  meeting.    A  com- 
mittee of  three  from  each  League  was  appointed  to  report  a  plan  at 
the    next    meeting,     which     was    held     in    the    following    Septem- 
ber.   At  that  time  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  effect  a  permanent  or- 
ganization, consequently  the  usual  form  was  observed,  and  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  chosen  for  one  year,  the  annual  election  occurring  in 
September: 

President,  H.  H.  Miller;  First  Vice-President,  W.  S.  Davis;  Sec- 


58  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

ond  Vice-President,  Miss  Mary  N.  Adams;  Third  Vice-President^ 
Mrs.  S.  Simmons;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Weaver;  Secretary, 
Miss  Alice  L.  Sampson;  Treasurer,  Miss  Cora  F.  Hacking.  The  union 
is  yet  in  its  infancy,  but  the  work  already  accomplished  is  fully  appre- 
ciated. Large  results  socially  and  spiritually  are  expected  in  the  near 
future.  Three  admirable  lectures  have  been  given  by  the  following 
well-known  brethren:  Rev.  E.  M.  Taylor,  Bishop  Hartzell  and  James. 
M.  Taber. 

At  each  quarterly  meeting  a  social  has  been  held  with  good  suc- 
cess. The  success  of  the  past  year  under  the  management  of  the 
present  officers  has  been  very  gratifying.  Mr.  W.  S.  Davis  was  elected 
President  at  the  last  annual  meeting  in  '97  and  A.  J.  Shovelton  first 
Vice-President,  no  other  changes  having  been  made.  Mr.  Shovelton 
inaugurated  a  union  love  feast,  held  once  in  three  months  at  5.30  Sun- 
day P.  M.  The  first  one  was  held  in  February,  1897,  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  with  a  large  attendance,  and  with  spiritual  power  and  enthu- 
siasm. These  meetings  are  gaining  in  interest  and  good  results  must 
follow.  It  is  the  desire  of  these  earnest  workers  that  God  will  bap- 
tize these  efforts  with  power,  that  they  may  bear  abundant  fruit. 


BRAYTON  MEMORIAL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALL  RIVER. 

The  history  of  this  church  is  somewhat  unique.  Its  environment 
is  historic.  The  memories  of  the  past  are  sacred.  The  organization 
of  a  Sunday  School  in  1843,  witn  Abner  L.  Westgate  of  the  First  M.  E. 
Church  as  superintendent,  was  the  nucleus.  The  first  sessions  of  the 

school  were  held  in  the  base- 
ment of  a  four-tenement  block 
called  the  Great  Westerner,, 
located  on  the  road  to  New- 
port (this  part  of  the  city  at 
that  time  was  in  the  town  of 
Tiverton,  R.  I.),  now  South 
Main  Street.  Success  crowned 
the  efforts  of  officers  and 
teachers.  New  accessions  were 
made  to  the  school  as  circum- 
stances would  allow.  A  more 
OLD  BRAYTON  CHURCH.  inviting  and  commodious  room 

was  subsequently  secured  in  the 
hall  over  the  Print  Works  on  Globe  Street. 

Mr.  Joel  Wood,  then  a  young  man  of  promise,  became  interested 


SOU  I' EN  IR  HISTORY. 


59 


and  identified  himself  with  Sunday  School  work  and  has  been  a  tireless 
worker  in  the  years  of  service  he  has  given  the  church. 

Mr.  William  Chapin,  then  the  owner  of  the  Print  Works,  was  a 
man  of  push  and  Christian  principle  and  through  his  influence  reli- 


NEW   BRAYTON   CHURCH. 

gious  services  were  held  in  the  hall,  largely  for  the  benefit  of  his 
operatives.  He  bought  a  site  on  Globe  Street  for  a  new  church,  and 
laid  the  corner  stone  August  14,  1850.  The  church  was  dedicated 
as  "Christ's  Church"  September  13.  Rev.  J.  P.  Cleveland,  D.  D.,  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  preached  the  sermon.  On  the  I4th  of  November  fol- 
lowing the  interior  of  the  church  was  remodeled  and  enlarged  to  meet 
the  increasing  demand  of  the  Sunday  School.  During  the  next  four 
years  three  clergymen  served  the  church:  Revs.  S.  S.  Ashley,  Harmon 
and  C.  J.  Cummings.  Rev.  David  Patten,  D.  D.,  Presiding  Elder  of 
the  Providence  District,  established  a  class  here  in  1853  and  organ- 
ized the  church.  In  the  early  autumn  Rev.  Amos  H.  Worthin  began 
his  labors  as  preacher  in  charge.  The  first  Quarterly  Conference  was 
held  here  June  3,  1855,  with  Rev.  C.  H.  Titus  as  Presiding  Elder,  and 
Elihu  Grant  preacher  in  charge.  At  this  time  Mr.  Chapin  sold  his 
Print  Works  and  left  town.  On  the  4th  of  April,  1854,  he  held  the 
last  meeting  of  the  corporation,  the  parish  and  church  meeting  fol- 
lowing. Dr.  Patten  secured  the  church  property  for  the  Methodists. 
The  deed  was  given  at  this  time,  though  the  church  did  not  take  legal 
possession  until  1857,  when  Asa  U.  Swinerton  was  pastor.  Mr. 
Swinerton  met  with  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  his  dear  wife,  whose 
funeral  occurred  March  17,  1861,  the  sermon  being  preached  by 
Bishop  Baker.  Rev.  C.  A.  Merrill  preceded  Mr.  Swinerton 


6o 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


and  gave  one  year  of  service.  Rev.  Elihu  Grant  was  his  successor 
and  for  the  second  time  gave  valuable  service  to  this  church.  At  the 
close  of  his  pastorate  the  church  was  placed  under  the  fostering  care 
of  the  First  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Grant  was  a  faithful,  self-sacrificing 
man.  Rev.  Amos  Walker  was  appointed  his  successor,  and  by  careful 
management  led  the  church  on  to  victory.  Rev.  E.  H.  Hatfield,  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  pulpit  ability,  next  came  and  attracted 
large  crowds  to  the  regular  services  of  the  church.  Rev.  Wm.  P. 
Hyde  followed  him  in  the  spring  of  1868  and  did  valiant  service  for 


REV.    R.    M.    WELKINS, 


MRS.    R.    M.    WILKINS. 


the  church.  He  lifted  the  burden  of  a  debt,  repaired  the  church,  and 
on  the  day  of  dedication  changed  the  name  from  Globe  Street  M.  E. 
Church  to  Brayton  M.  E.  Church.  Hon.  John  S.  Brayton,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  B.  Young,  his  sister,  gave  with  a  liberal  hand  to  aid  Mr.  Hyde 
in  his  work. 

The  Brayton  family  have  been  connected  with  Methodism  from 
its  introduction  into  southeastern  Massachusetts  to  the  present. 
Mr.  John  Brayton,  grandsire  of  John  S.,  and  family  was  also  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  old  historic  M.  E.  Church  at  South  Somer- 
set. His  beautiful  home  was  ever  open  to  the  weary  itinerant  who 
found  here  "a  calm,  a  sure  retreat."  The  family  which  have  sprung 
from  this  saint  of  God  have  become  prominent  actors  in  the  social 
business  and  professional  life  of  Fall  River.  They  have  been  identi- 
fied with  every  public  movement  tending  to  elevate  society  and  afford 
relief  to  the  suffering.  The  Methodism  of  North  Dighton  and  this 
city  stand  an  imperishable  monument  to  the  memory  of  John 
Brayton. 

During  the  pastorate  of  William  P.  Hyde  a  bell  was  presented  to 
the  society  by  Mr.  Augustus  Chase.  Other  pastors  who  have  served 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


61 


this  church  with  success  are  Rev.  G.  H.  Lamson,  C.  S.  Morse,  E.  A. 
Lyon,  S.  McKeown,  Elihu  Grant  and  W.  B.  Heath.  During  Mr. 
Heath's  stay  of  three  years  the  church  was  raised,  and  a  vestry  added, 
an  annex  built  with  room  for  the  primary  department  and  a  ladies' 
kitchen,  the  roof  shingled,  and  the  building  painted,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Young  and  her  brothers,  John  S.  and  Hezekiah  Bray- 
ton,  gave  liberally  to  aid  this  work.  Mrs.  Young  left  a  bequest  in  her 
will  to  the  church  of  $1,000  in  trust.  The  Ladies'  Aid  gave  Mr.  Heath 
valuable  assistance  in  his  work. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Simon  followed  Mr.  Heath.     Again  for  prudential 


WILLIAM  A.  GAMMONS. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


JOHN  N.  WILDE. 
Epworth    League   President. 


reasons  the  society  thought  it  best  to  seek  shelter  under  the  wing  of 
the  First  M.  E.  Church  again.  Mr.  Simon  served  a  second  year  and 
then  the  relation  was  discontinued.  Rev.  Robert  Clark  came  as  the 
next  pastor,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Gammons.  He  spent 
five  pleasant  years  here.  He  improved  the  main  entrance  to  the 
church,  beautified  the  auditorium  and  made  it  more  attractive.  Much 
of  the  work  was  done  with  his  own  hands,  as  lie  has  practical  knowl- 
edge of  frescoing. 

April,  1894,  Rev.  R.  M.  Wilkins  was  assigned  to  this  field,  and 
the  relation  has  been  continued  to  the  present,  this  being  the  fourth 
year. 

The  Year  Book  of  1894  gave  137  church  members,  and  the  total 
enrollment  in  the  Sunday  School,  272.  At  present  there  are  168  mem- 
bers of  the  church  and  357  total  enrollment  in  the  Sunday  School. 
The  advancement  of  the  church  during  this  long  period  of  business 
depression  is  cause  for  rejoicing.  The  rapid  growth  of  the  Sunday 


62  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

School  and  other  departments  of  work  called  for  more  adequate 
accommodations,  if  large  success  was  to  be  achieved.  In  January, 
1895,  a  gracious  revival  of  religion  gave  the  church  new  and  efficient 
workers.  The  need  for  a  better  place  of  worship  had  been  under 
consideration  for  some  time.  A  committee  to  raise  funds  for  that 
object  was  appointed.  Steps  were  taken  to  build.  Pledges  from  the 
Ladies'  Aid  and  from  the  Epworth  League  for  $500  each  had  been 
secured,  and  Hon.  J.  S.  Brayton  and  his  sister,  Miss  Sarah  S.  Brayton, 
sent  their  checks  for  $500  each  to  aid  the  new  enterprise.  The  en- 
couragement from  this  noted  source  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  work, 
and  made  a  new  church  possible.  The  board  decided  to  dedicate  the 
new  church  Brayton  Memorial  in  honor  of  the  pioneer  Methodist  of 
the  locality,  Mr.  John  Brayton.  The  idea  of  a  better  and  more 
eligible  site  had  been  under  discussion  for  some  time,  and  the  matter 
was  finally  referred  to  the  Conference  Board  of  Church  Location. 
This  board  made  a  careful  investigation  of  every  available  site,  but 
failed  to  fix  upon  any.  Plans  were  immediately  drawn  for  a  new 
building  on  the  old  site.  The  building  committee  empowered  to 
act  had  specifications  drawn  ready  for  contractors'  bids,  when  Mr. 
John  D.  Flint  became  interested  and  spent  some  time  with  the  pastor 
making  a  careful  investigation  of  available  sites.  Mr.  Flint  found  one 
at  last  on  Griffin  Street,  between  Broadway  and  South  Main  Street, 
and  made  the  board  an  offer  of  seventy-eight  rods  of  land,  worth  in 
the  market  $3,000.  This  offer  was  gladly  accepted  and  thus  one  of 
the  most  difficult  problems  in  the  history  of  the  church  was  solved. 
The  name  of  John  D.  Flint  will  never  be  forgotten  by  this  church. 
He  generously  subscribed  $500  to  aid  the  enterprise.  Credit  is  due 
to  Messrs.  Stevens,  Dr.  Davis  and  Edward  B.  Jennings  for  their 
liberality  in  donating  so  valuable  a  piece  of  property  to  this  church. 
Through  the  influence  of  Rev.  T.  J.  Everett,  Presiding  Elder,  the  Con- 
ference Home  Missionary  Board  has  given  $400  to  this  work.  The 
ground  for  the  new  building  was  broken  June  14.  The  new  structure 
will  be  Gothic  and  two-story,  with  all  modern  conveniences.  The 
estimated  cost  of  the  new  building  is  $9,300.  With  this  new  equip- 
ment and  one  of  the  best  locations  in  this  part  of  the  city  the  church 
will  march  on  to  power,  success  and  fame. 

PASTORS. 

1854.  Amos  H.  Worthin  1875-76.  Edward  A.  Lyon 

1855.  Elihu  Grant  1877-78.  Samuel  McKeown 

1856.  Charles  A.  Merrill  1879-80.  Elihu  Grant 

1857.  Asa  U.  Swinerton  1881-83.  William  B.  Heath 
1861-62.  Elihu  Grant  1884-85.  B.  F.  Simon 
1867.  Edward  Hatfield  1886-88.  Robert  Clark 
1868-70.  William  P.  Hyde  1889-93.  Jonn  G.  Gammons 
1871-72.  George  H.  Lamson  1894 —  R.  M.  Wilkins 
1873-74.  Charles  S.  Morse 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  63 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — William  A.  Gammons,  J.  N.  Wilde,  A.  J.  Wilcox, 
Walter  Etchells,  Hiram  Bradshaw,  J.  B.  Monk,  John  Wood,  Vincent 
Thorpe,  William  Griffiths. 

Stewards — J.  N.  Wilde,  Joseph  Solomon,  William  A.  Gammons, 
Vincent  Thorpe,  Herbert  Cash,  Richard  Shovelton,  William  Griffiths, 
A.  J.  Wilcox,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Rowbottom,  Mrs.  Nancy  Turner,  Mrs. 
Ellen  Wood. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  A.  Gammons;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  C.  J.  McCreery;  Secretary,  Vincent  Thorpe;  Treas- 
urer^. H.  McCreery;  Librarian,  William  Gaskell. 

Teachers — R.  M.  Wilkins,  J.  N.  Wilde,  J.  Solomon,  Herbert  Cash, 
George  Monks,  Richard  Knowles,  Hiram  Bradshaw,  Mrs.  R.  M. 
Wilkins,  Mrs.  M.  Sykes,  Mrs.  Nancy  Turner,  Miss  Florence  Turner, 
Miss  Bertha  Kay,  Miss  Mary  Buckley,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Cash,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam A.  Gammons,  Mrs.  Mary  Fitton,  Miss  Cora  F.  Hacking,  Miss 
•Charlotte  Tongue,  Mrs.  A.  Fields,  Mrs.  Vincent  Thorpe.  Infant  De- 
partment— Principal,  Miss  Stella  M.  Bounds;  Assistants,  Almeda 
Harris,  Martha  Dubois. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  John  N.  Wilde;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Joseph  Solomon;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Stella  M.  Bounds; 
Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Ella  Wilcox;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Lizzie  Hacking;  Treasurer,  George  Monks;  Secretary,  Miss  Cora  F. 
Hacking. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALL  RIVER,  MASS. 


FIRST   CHURCH. 


The  source  of  Fall  River  Methodism  is  to  be  found  in  the  church 
at  South  Somerset,  formerly  named  in  the  appointments  as  Somerset. 
In  the  year  1824  Ebenezer  Blake,  the  pastor  of  that  church,  began  to 
"preach  lectures"  once  a  fortnight  on  week  evenings  in  the  village 

of  Troy,  as  Fall  River  was  then, 
called.  His  successor,  Heman 
Perry,  continued  these  services, 
and,  in  1825,  organized  a  class  of 
about  twelve  members  of  which 
John  Anthony  was  made  leader. 
In  June,  1826,  Charles  Virgin  and 
Nathan  B.  Spaulding  were  ap- 
pointed to  Somerset.  They  in- 
augurated a  fortnightly  Sunday 
service  at  a  'schoolhouse  in  Fall 
River.  About  the  first  of  January, 
1827,  a  gracious  revival  of  religion 
occurred  and  from  that  time  to 
the  close  of  the  year  Mr.  Spaulding 
gave  his  time  wholly  to  the  work  in  this  place. 

At  the  close  of  the  Conference  of  June,  1827,  Fall  River  first  ap- 
peared in  the  list  of  appointments  and  Edward  T.  Taylor  was  assigned 
to  the  charge.  There  were  about 
one  hundred  members  in  the  so- 
ciety at  this  time.  An  effort  was 
made  immediately  to  provide  a  suit- 
able house  of  worship  and  on 
Christmas  of  1827  the  first  church 
was  dedicated.  This  was  located 
in  Central  Street.  Mr.  Taylor  con- 
tinued with  the  church  until  De- 
cember, 1828,  when  he  removed  to 
Boston  and  assumed  charge  of  the 
Mariners'  Bethel,  in  that  city,  a 
position  which  he  held  for  more 
than  forty  years  and  in  which  he 
won  a  world-wide  fame. 

The  young  society  enjoyed  a  growing  prosperity  until  the  latter 
part  of  1832,  when  a  tragedy  occurred  which  was  a  severe  blow  for 
Methodism  in  all  this  vicinity.  The  pastor  of  the  church  at  Bristol  was 
suspected  of  the  murder  of  a  young  woman  whose  dead  body  was 


FIRST    CHURCH    PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


found  in  Fall  River.  He  was  acquitted  in  court,  but  as  a  consequence 
of  the  affair  an  intense  and  violent  prejudice  against  Methodism  was 
created  from  which  it  suffered  for  a  long  period.  Many  withdrew 
from  the  church  and  congregation.  Revivals  replenished  the  num- 
bers, however,  and  in  a  few  years  a  more  commodious  place  of  wor- 
ship in  a  better  location  became  a  necessity.  A  new  church,  erected 
on  the  site  now  occupied,  was  dedicated  February  12,  1840,  by  Rev. 
Orange  Scott,  during  the  pastorate  of  Phineas  Crandall.  This  build- 
ing was  consumed  by  fire,  in  a  conflagration  which  destroyed  a  large 
part  of  the  business  section  of  the  city,  Julv  2,  1843.  The  pastor, 


WILLIAM  B.   GOPF. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


WILLIAM   S.   DAVIS. 
Epworth   League   President. 


Thomas  Ely,  applied  himself  with  great  energy  and  perseverance  to 
the  task'  of  rebuilding,  and  on  April  3,  1844,  the  present  structure  was 
dedicated.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  Charles 
K.  True. 

In  the  winter  of  1849-50,  while  Daniel  Wise  was  pastor,  the  emi- 
nent evangelist,  Rev.  James  Caughey,  labored  with  the  church  about 
three  months.  At  the  ensuing  Conference  three  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  members  and  two  hundred  and  one  probationers  were  reported. 
The  congregation  had  become  so  large  that  it  was  impossible  to  accom- 
modate the  people  with  sittings,  and  it  was  decided  to  rent  a  hall, 
divide  the  congregation  and  ask  for  two  preachers  from  the  Con- 
ference. Accordingly  Mr.  Wise  was  returned  and  Elijah  T.  Fletcher 
was  made  his  associate.  The  two  preachers  alternated  in  preaching, 
each  serving  both  congregations  every  Sabbath.  During  the  year 
the  second  society  was  organized,  and  thus  originated  St.  Pauil's 
Church.  The  two  societies  worked  in  perfect  harmony,  recognizing 


66 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


the  little  river  that  flows  through  the  center  of  the  city  as  the  line 
of  division  between  the  two  parishes. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Frederick  Upham  funds  were  secured  for 
the  building  of  an  organ,  which  was  placed  in  the  church  in  June, 
1853,  just  after  Mr.  Upham's  term  of  service  had  expired.  In  1863, 
while  Henry  Baylies  was  pastor,  a  house  on  South  Main  Street  was 
purchased  for  a  parsonage.  After  being  used  for  this  purpose  ten 
years  the  property  was  sold  and  the  present  parsonage  was  built  on 
Ridge  Street.  In  the  same  year  and  during  the  pastorate  of  S.  L. 
Gracey,  the  space  between  the  church  and  the  sidewalk  was  utilized 
by  erecting  two  stores,  connected  with  the  front  of  the  church,  thus 
making  the  structure  in  part  a  business  block.  The  trustees  were 
led  to  this  action  by  the  increasing  value  of  land  in  the  vicinity  and 
the  great  demand  for  rents  for  business  purposes.  In  1891,  while 
Walter  J.  Yates  was  pastor,  the  church  was  extensively  renovated,  the 
vestries  being  practically  rebuilt,  new  rooms  added,  and  the  front  of 
the  building  so  reconstructed  as  to  contain  four  larger  stores  instead 
of  the  two  small  ones  that  had  previously  been  available. 

Throughout  its  history  this  has  been  eminently  a  "revival" 
church.  Outpourings  of  the  Divine  Spirit  resulting  in  large  additions 
to  the  membership  have  been  frequent,  while  scarcely  a  pastoral  term 
has  passed  in  which  considerable  numbers  have  not  been  added  to  the 
church.  During  several  of  the  pastorates  the  accessions  have  ranged 
between  seventy-five  and  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  in  some  of  them 
more  than  the  larger  of  these  numbers  have  been  received. 


PASTORS. 

1827-28.  Edward  T.  Taylor  1857-58. 

1829  Ebenezer  Blake  1859-60. 

1830  Daniel  Webb  1861-62. 
1831-32.  Ira  M.  Bidwell  1863-64. 
lS33-34-  Squire  B.  Haskell  1865-66. 
1 835-36.  Mark  Staple  1867-69. 
1837  Hector  Brownson  1870-72. 
1 838-39.  Phineas  Crandall  1873 
1840-41.  Isaac  Bonney  1874-76. 
1842-43.  Thomas  Ely  1877-78. 
1844  George  F.  Pool  1879-81. 
1845-46.  James  D.  Butler  1882 
1847-48.  David  Patten  1883-85. 

1849  Daniel  Wise  1886 

1850  Daniel  Wise  and  Eli-      1887-88. 

jah  T.  Fletcher  1889-91. 

1851-52.  Frederick  Upham  1892-95. 

1853-54.  Elisha  B.  Bradford  1896-97. 

1855-56.  John  Howson 


Thomas  Ely 
Andrew  McKeown 
Charles  H.  Payne 
Henry  Baylies 
Joseph  H.  James 
John   D.   King 
Alfred  A.  Wright 
Samuel  L.  Gracey 
Ensign  McChesney 
Watson  L.  Phillips 
William  T.  Worth 
Warren  A.  Luce 
Dwight  A.  Jordan 
Alfred  E.  Drew 
Archibald  McCord 
Walter  J.  Yates 
Warren  A.  Luce 
Stephen  O.  Benton. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  this  connection  it  should  be  stated  that  E.  T.  Taylor  removed 
to  the  Mariners'  Bethel,  Boston,  in  December,   1828,  and  Ebenezer 

Blake  and  others  supplied  until  the 
next  session  of  Conference;  Mark 
Staples  failed  in  health  January,  1837,. 
and  Jesse  Fillmore,  a  local  preacher, 
was  in  charge  from  February  until  the 
ensuing  Conference;  Henry  Baylies 
was  transferred  to  a  western  Confer- 
ence in  the  autumn  of  1864,  and  J.  H. 
James,  then  a  member  of  the  New 
Jersey  Conference,  who  had  just  left  a 
chaplaincy  in  the  army,  finished  out 
the  year  and  at  its  close  was  trans- 
ferred to  this  Conference;  Warren  A. 
Luce  was  compelled  by  impaired 
health  to  relinquish  his  pulpit  in  the 
summer  of  1882,  and  Sidney  Dean 
supplied  to  the  end  of  the  year. 


REV.  S.  O.  BENTON. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — William  H.  Holt,  Thomas  Waring,  Benjamin  F.  Davis,. 
William  H.  Harrison,  William  Thorpe,  George  A.  Mathewson,  John 
R.  Butterworth,  George  Cook. 

Stewards — William  S.  Davis,  Benjamin  F.  Davis,  George  A. 
Mathewson,  William  C.Snow,  Joseph  Harrison,  William  Y.McMullen,. 
Alexander  J.  Dennis,  John  R.  Butterworth,  Everett  E.  Tripp,  George 
Cook,  William  B.  Garlick. 

Class  Leader — William  H.  Holt. 

Exhorter — George  Scholes. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  E.  Goff;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Samuel  Wood;  Secretary,  Lewis  A.  Woodland; 
Asst.  Secretary,  John  Dreghorn;  Treasurer,  George  A.  Mathew- 
son; Librarian,  Laughlin  W.  McFarland;  Assistants,  Frank  Linley,. 
Frank  Coombs,  Robert  Thompson,  Leslie  Laflin;  Primary  Superin- 
tendent, Mrs.  Lucy  Fothergill;  Primary  Secretary  and  Librarian,. 
Edith  Whitehead;  Kindergarten  Superintendent,  Hattie  L.  Stebbins;: 
Assistant,  Lucy  E.  Fothergill;  Home  Department  Superintendent,. 
Mary  N.  Adams. 

Teachers — Lizzie  M.  Grinnell,  Lavinia  Lawrence,  William  H. 
Holt,  Mrs.  Andrew  Borden,  Mrs.  Robert  Baillie,  Wm.  McLeod,  Mrs. 
Elisha  F.  White,  William  C.  Snow,  Lizzie  Sidebotham,  Mrs.  Walter 
W.  Mason,  Mrs.  Samuel  Wood,  Mrs.  George  W.  Angell,  John  Moore,. 


68 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Mrs.  Mary  J.  Bailey,  Mrs.  William  Thorpe,  Eva  M.  Benton,  Mrs. 
Kezia  E.  Sutcliffe,  Wright  Turner,  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Hentershee,  Wil- 
liam S.  Davis,  George  Cook,  Sarah  J.  Howarth,  Peter  Nelson,  Josie 
A.  Anderson,  Annie  L.  Dickinson,  Lavinia  Reynolds,  Mary  N. 
Adams,  Mrs.  John  Moore,  Sadie  M.  Nelson,  Mrs.  Alfred  Clarkson, 
Ruth  Thackeray,  Helen  Smith,  Lottie  Mitchell,  Annabel  Woodland, 
Edwin  F.  Sharp. 

Epworth  League — President,  Wm.  S.  Davis;  First  Vice-President, 
Miss  Lizzie  Sidebotham,  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Mary  N. 
Adams,  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Samuel  Wood;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Albert  E.  Vaughan;  Secretary,  Wright  Turner;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Edith  M.  Sidaway. 


NORTH  M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALL  RIVER,  MASS. 

The  North  M.  E.  Church,  like  many  others,  had  its  beginning  in 
Sunday  School  work.  The  records  show  that  June  12,  1852,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  M.  E.  Sunday  School  of  Steep  Brook  was  held.  John 
Haskell  was  chosen  Superintendent  and  J.  B.  Ashley  Secretary  pro 
tern,  and  a  committee  of  three  was  chosen  to  prepare  a  Constitution 
and  By-laws  for  the  school.  On  January  3,  1853,  at  a  meeting  held 
the  following  resolution  was  offered  by  J.  T.  Wilson:  "Whereas  the 

merits  of  our  society  require  a 
more  convenient  place  to  hold 
their  Sunday  School  (having  met 
until  now  in  the  Steep  Brook 
schoolhouse)  and  religious  meet- 
ings: Voted  that  we  choose  a 
committee  to  investigate  said 
subject,  and  take  all  necessary 
preliminary  measures  to  carry  the 
same  into  effect." 

John  Haskell,  R.  H.  Allen  and 
F.  A.  Hathaway  were  said  com- 
mittee. In  February,  1853,  a 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  was 
held  and  the  secretary  reported 
that  the  Sunday  school  that  began 

in  the  schoolhouse  about  nine  months  before,  had  an  attendance  of  116 
scholars  and  teachers,  with  an  average  attendance  of  sixty  during  the 
year. 

At  this  session  they  voted  to  invite  the  Second  M.  E.  Church  of 


NORTH   STREET   CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


69 


Fall  River  to  send  some  one  to  take  charge  of  the  school.  The  request 
was  granted  and  John  Haskell  came  and  discharged  the  duties  of 
Superintendent  with  success  to  the  school  and  satisfaction  to  all. 

The  record  goes  on  to  say  that  "in  a  few  more  Sabbaths  we  hope 
for  a  more  suitable  place  to  worship  in,  and  also  that  we  shall  have  a 
minister  sent  to  us." 

The  second  annual  meeting  was  held  April  6,  1854,  and  this  meet- 
ing seems  to  have  been  held  in  the  new  church.  David  Patten,  D.  D., 
was  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Providence  District  at  this  time,  and 
preached  the  dedicatory  sermon. 


PASTORS. 

1854  O.  N.  Brooks  1876-77. 

1855  J.  N.  Colyer  1878-79. 

1856  J.  Shepley  1 880-81. 
l85?-58-  P-  Cranston  1882 
1859-60.  Supplied  1883-85. 
1 86 1  A.  G.  Gurner  1886-87. 
1862-63.  G.  H.  Winchester  1888-89. 

1864  B.  Ashley  1890-91. 

1865  J.  Gifford  1892 
1866-68.  J.  Q.  Adams  1893 
1869-70.  J.  G.  Gammons  ^94 
1871-72.  Philip  Crandon  1895— 
1 873-75.  R-  W.  C.  Farnsworth 


E.  G.  Babcock 
G.  H.  Lamson 
A.  J.  Coultas 
A.  J.  Church 
J.  G.  Gammons 
E.  G.  Babcock 
J.  A.  Rood 
O.  E.  Johnson 
J.  Livesey 
S.  T.  Patterson 
W.  Ridington 
A.  Anderson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — R.  Allen,  D.  Lown,  F.  M.  Shaw,  J.  Wood,  J.  Lewin, 
W.  B.  Ashley,  J.  Shaw,  P.  Wilbur,  R.  Parlow. 

Stewards — R.  Allen,  D.  Lown,  C.  Davenport,  G.  Hathaway, 
W.  B.  Ashley,  J.  Shaw,  J.  Lewin. 

Sunday  School — J.  Shaw,  Superintendent;  R.  Brown,  Assistant 
Superintendent,  H.  Hathaway,  Secretary;  B.  Ashley,  Treasurer;  A. 
Childs,  Librarian. 

Epworth  League — President,  Pastor;  Vice-President,  E.  Simmons; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  R.  Brown. 


*  a 


QUARRY  ST.  M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALL  RIVER,  MASS. 

On  Sunday,  November  2ist,  1869,  the  following  notice  was  given 
in  the  First  Methodist  Church,  and  also  in  St.  Paul's:  "All  who  feel 
an  interest  in  establishing  a  Methodist  Mission  Sunday  School  on  the 
cross-road  leading  from  the  head  of  Bedford  Street  to  Pleasant  Street, 


QUARRY  STREET  CHURCH. 

are  requested  to  meet  in  vestry  No.  2  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  on 
Wednesday  evening,  the  24th,  at  a  quarter  to  8  o'clock." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  notice,  the  following  persons  as- 
sembled at  the  above  time  and  place:  Rev.  J.  D.  King  and  Messrs. 
J.  D.  Flint,  James  Ashton,  James  Hunter,  Charles  Brett,  Wm.  J. 
Waring,  S.  W.  Copeland,  D.  W.  Baldwin,  and  Miss  Alice  Alty,  of  the 
First  Church;  also,  Rev.  F.  J.  Wagner  and  Messrs.  Iram  Smith, 
Lafayette  Nichols,  Adoniram  J.  Marble,  Edward  M.  Pierce,  Leroy 
Sargent  and  James  E.  McCreery,  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Rev.  J.  D.  King  opened  the  meeting  with  prayer.  He  was 
then  chosen  chairman  of  the  meeting.  After  debate,  it  was  unani- 
mously voted  to  establish  a  Mission  Sunday  School  in  accordance 
with  the  notice  given. 

A  building  committee  was  elected,  with  instructions  to  report 
plans  and  estimates,  the  sense  of  the  meeting  being  that  a  building 
to  seat  three  hundred  would  be  large  enough. 

At  a  meeting  held  December  6,  1869,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  house 
not  to  exceed  $4,000  in  cost. 

March  4th,  1870,  it  was  reported  that  $2,400  had  been  sub- 
scribed. March  nth,  1870,  Rev.  J.  D.  King  reported  that  he  had 
received  from  the  First  Church  Sunday  School  $185.  At  this  meet- 
ing Trustees  were  elected. 

Several  meetings  were  held  during  the  year,  at  which  the  progress 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


of  the  work  was  reported.  Rev.  A.  A.  Wright  had  meanwhile  been 
appointed  as  Pastor  of  the  First  Church,  and  Rev.  E.  J.  Haynes  to 
St.  Paul's.  These  brethren  showed  great  interest  in  the  new  church, 
and  the  supplying  of  the  pulpit  was  left  in  their  hands  until  the 
appointment  of  a  regular  pastor  was  made. 

The  new  church  building  was  dedicated  September  28,  1870.  It 
had  been  decided  September  7th  to  name  the  organization  "The 
Quarry  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Society." 

The  cost  of  the  church  edifice  was  about  $5,500,  and  at  the  time 
of  dedication  there  was  left  a  debt  of  about  $2,000.  The  church  was 


REV.   H.   A.   RIDGWAY. 


MRS.     H.    A.    RIDGWAY. 


organized  September  28.  1870,  the  day  of  dedication,  with  seven  full 
members  and  one  probationer.  The  first  to  join  the  church  from 
probation  were  received  May  7th,  1871.  There  were  twenty-one. 
Of  this  number  only  three  remain — Caroline  Goss,  Sarah  E.  Booth 
and  Jane  Hunter.  Of  the  seven  original  members  none  remain 
members  of  the  church.  The  senior  member  is  Mrs.  Ellen  Bowler. 

The  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Quarry  Street  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  was  organized  December  2,  1870,  in  the  counting  room 
of  L.  Nichols  &  Co.,  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Fall 
River  District,  being  chairman  of  the  meeting.  Cornelius  Hargraves 
was  appointed  class  leader,  and  confirmed  as  Sunday  School  superin- 
tendent at  this  first  Quarterly  Conference.  He  held  the  position  until 
the  election  of  Mr.  Wm.  J.  Waring  in  1873.  Mr.  Waring  held  the 
position  until  1895,  with  the  exception  of  a  part  of  one  year,  when  Mr. 
Richard  Shovelton  occupied  the  place. 

In  1895  Edward  Goss  was  elected  superintendent,  and  has  served 
ever  since.  Brother  Goss  is  one  of  Quarry  Street's  young  men,  he 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


73 


EDWARD    GOSS. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


"having  been  a  member  of  the  school  since  his  boyhood.  He  is  deserv- 
edly popular,  and  has  the  universal  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 
The  school  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  numbering  over  300  mem- 
bers. For  the  Conference  year  of  1896-7  it  had  the  largest  average 

attendance  of  any  Methodist  school  in 
Fall  River.  We  have  a  faithful  band 
of  officers  and  teachers,  and  with 
larger  and  more  convenient  accom- 
modations the  school  would  grow  in 
the  future. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized 
by  Rev.  F.  L.  Brooks.  The  nominal 
membership  was  very  large  because 
of  its  novelty  and  the  absence  of  re- 
strictions or  of  obligations.  The 
League,  however,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Mr.  Brooks  did  splendid  ser- 
vice in  the  various  branches  of  its 
work.  The  membership  is  not  as  large 
at  present,  it  having  been  found  neces- 
sary to  revise  the  list  of  mem- 
bership and  impose  some  obliga- 
tions upon  the  members.  The 
young  people  of  the  church  and 
League  are  loyal  and  intelligent, 
many  of  them  earnest  Chris- 
tians. 

The  children  of  the  church  are 
organized  into  classes,  Miss  Ade- 
line Townsend  and  Miss  M. 
Emma  Ross  having  charge  of  the 
same.  Miss  M.  Emma  Ross  is 
the  deaconess  who  works  in  con- 
nection with  this  church,  living  at 
the  Fall  River  Deaconesses' 
Home.  Her  ministrations  among 
the  poor  and  needy  are  blessed 
of  God  in  winning  some  to  Christ, 
and  her  work  among  the  children 
and  young  people  is  of  great 
help. 

In  1875,  during  the  term  of  Rev. 
R.  Povey,  the  parsonage  was 
tmilt.  Rev.  J.  C.  Gowan  succeeded  in  raising  the  debt  on  the  church 


WM.    J.    WARING. 
Class  Leader,   1873-95. 


74  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

property.  Rev.  F.  L.  Brooks  was  successful  in  having  alterations 
and  improvements  made,  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,000.  Most  of 
this  was  paid  during  his  pastorate.  A  comparatively  small  amount 
left  over  has  since  been  paid.  There  is  at  present  no  debt  on  the 
property. 

The  parsonage  of  the  Quarry  Street  Church  has  just  been  re- 
paired and  renovated,  at  a  cost  of  between  two  and  three  hundred 
dollars. 

PASTORS. 

1871.  William  Livesey  1883.          John  C.  Gowan 

1872.  C.  W.  Warren  1884-86.     John  D.  King 
1873-74.     S.  M.  Beal                         1887-88.     George  M.  Hamlen 

1875.  Richard  Povey  1889-91.  B.  K.  Bosworth 

1876.  E.  D.  Hall  1892-94.  F.  L.  Brooks 
1877-79.  Henry  H.  Martin  1895 —  H.  A.  Ridgway 
1880-82.  James  H.  Nutting 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Benj.  Palmer,  Bethel  Booth,  Joseph  Bridges,  Alfred 
Hanson,  Thomas  Ashton,  John  Goss. 

Stewards — Edward  Goss,  John  Burgess,  John  Burne,  Wm.  Rat- 
cliffe, Joseph  Bridges,  Miss  Nancy  Kershaw,  Mrs.  Esther  Coolidge, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Goss,  Mrs.  Jeannette  McAlpine,  Miss  Clara  Sampson, 
Miss  Alice  Sampson,  John  Goss  (R.  S.  and  Treas.). 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Edward  Goss.  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Thomas  Ashton.  Secretary,  James  Walmsley.  Assistant 
Secretary,  Joseph  Barker.  Librarian,  Jaspar  Adams.  Assistant 
Librarian,  Joseph  Ratcliffe. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Minnie  Goss,  Miss  Clara  Sampson,  Miss  M. 
Emma  Ross,  Edward  Goss,  John  Goss,  Edward  Vinecombe,  Miss 
Nancy  Kershaw,  Miss  Alice  Sampson,  Mrs.  Sarah  Booth,  Mrs.  Anna 
M.  Ridgway,  Miss  Eleanor  Holden,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Goss,  Miss  Ade- 
line Towriend,  Mrs.  Eliza  Waring,  Mrs.  Selena  Shaw,  Miss  Ursie  Cav- 
alier, Mrs.  Mary  Nabb,  H.  A.  Ridgway,  William  Christophers,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Christophers,  Miss  Annie  Raynes. 

Primary  Department — Superintendent,  Miss  Annie  Ashton.  As- 
sistant, Miss  Esther  Raynes. 

Epworth  League — President,  H.  A.  Ridgway.  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Miss  Adeline  Townend.  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Lizzie 
M.  Ratcliffe.  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Nancy  Kershaw.  Fourth 
Vice-President,  Miss  Jennie  Coe.  Secretary,  Miss  Alice  Sampson. 
Treasurer,  Joseph  Ratcliffe. 


ST.  PAUL'S  M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALL  RIVER,  MASS. 
By  Iram  N.  Smith. 

During  the  winter  commencing  with  December,  1849,  the  pastor 
of  the  old  First  Church,  Fall  River  (Rev.  Daniel  Wise),  was  assisted 
in  special  services  by  Rev.  James  Caughey,  evangelist.  Their  joint 
efforts  were  blessed  abundantly,  and  two  hundred  converts  were  gath- 
ered in.  At  the  following  Con- 
ference (1850),  three  hundred  and 
forty-nine  members  were  re- 
ported, besides  two  hundred  and 
one  on  probation.  The  church 
edifice  having  been  found  en- 
tirely inadequate  for  the  congre- 
gation, many  who  desired  pews 
being  unable  to  secure  them,  it 
had  been  decided  to  form  a  sec- 
ond congregation,  and  to  ask  the 
Conference  for  an  additional 
preacher.  Accordingly,  Rev. 
Elijah  T.  Fletcher  was  appointed 
as  associate  with  Mr.  Wise  for 
the  year  ensuing.  A  hall  was  se- 
cured on  Main  Street,  a  new 
Sabbath  School  was  estab- 

ST.  PAUL-S  CHURCH.  lished      and      regular      Sabbath 

preaching  was  begun.      The  two 

pastors  alternated  in  preaching,  each  addressing  both  congregations 
every -Sunday. 

ORGANIZATION. 

On  April  20,  1851,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  members  of  the 
First  Church,  having  withdrawn  by  letter,  organized  as  the  Second 
M.  E.  Church,  with  Rev.  Ralph  W.  Allen  as  regularly  appointed  pas- 
tor. The  preaching  services  were  held  for  a  time  in  Liberty  Hall,  the 
upper  story  of  a  brick  building  on  the  south  side  of  Pocasset  Street, 
the  lower  story  being  occupied  by  a  bowling  alley.  A  part  of  the  site 
is  now  occupied  by  the  Daily  Herald  building.  This  hall  soon  became 
too  small  for  the  increasing  congregation,  and  Union  Hall  was  en- 
gaged, an  upper  story  of  a  wooden  building  then  located  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  North  Main  and  Bank  Streets.  The  spot  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  First  National  Bank  building.  The  first  service  was  held 
here  in  July,  1851.  While  occupying  Union  Hall  the  church  had  as 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


chorister  and  organist,  Eben  Tourjee,  who  was  then  the  proprietor 
of  a  small  music  store  on  North  Main  Street,  but  who  was  afterwards 


ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH  (Interior). 

widely  known  as  the  founder  of  the  New  England  Conservatory  of 
Music,  of  Boston. 

CHURCH  EDIFICE. 

The  subject   of  a   church   edifice  was  brought  up   at   the   First 
Quarterly  Conference,  May  7,  1851,  Rev.  Thos.  Ely,  Presiding  Elder. 


•' 

r1 


REV.  J.  H.  MacDONALD. 


MRS.  J.  H.  MacDONALD. 


It  was  decided  to  build,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure 
subscriptions.  On  August  4th,  1851,  in  Union  Hall,  the  Church  or- 
ganized as  a  corporation,  with  the  name  of  "St.  Paul's  M.  E.  Society 
of  Fall  River."  September  i  Irani  Smith  reported,  for  the  trustees, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


77 


that  the  lot  on  Bank  Street  had  been  purchased  from  Oliver  Chace 
for  $2,303.17.  (This  lot  was  then  occupied  by  a  bowling  alley.)  Sep- 
tember 1 8  a  plan  for  a  house  of  worship  was  accepted  and  placed 


WILLIAM   S.    GREENE. 
Sunday    School    Superintendent. 


GEORGE  W.    PENNIMAN. 
Epworth  League  President. 


in  the  hands  of  a  building  committee,  consisting  of  Wm.  Mason, 
Irani  Smith,  Elisha  D.  Hathaway,  Wm.  H.  Mason,  Oliver  H.  Bush, 
Henry  Pratt,  Mervin  R.  Chace,  Benj.  P.  Cunningham  and  David  P. 


CHARLES   E.    CROSS,    Layman. 


R.    C.    BROWN,    Layman. 


Davis.  On  July  4th,  1852,  the  lecture  room  was  occupied,  and  on 
November  loth,  the  church,  having  cost  $16,000,  was  dedicated.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Daniel  Wise. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


IMPROVEMENTS  AND  PROGRESS. 

In  1856,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Micah  J.  Talbot,  $5,000 
was  paid  on  the  church  debt.  In  1864,  in  the  second  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Samuel  C.  Brown,  the  building  was  enlarged  to  its  present  seat- 
ing capacity  of  800,  having  cost  up  to  that  date  $24,000.  The  re-dedi- 
cation services  occurred  November  24,  1864,  Rev.  R.  M.  Hatfield  of 
Brooklyn  preaching  the  sermon.  Ten  years  later,  during  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Reed,  class  rooms  were  added  at  the  rear  of  the 
church  and  other  improvements  were  made,  at  an  expense  of  $3,000. 
At  the  same  time,  through  the  efforts  and  liberality  of  Organist  Wm. 
J.  Hathaway  and  others,  a  magnificent  organ  was  put  in,  at  an  ex- 


IRAM  SMITH  (Deceased). 


WILLIAM  MASON  (Deceased). 


pense  of  about  $5,000.  In  1879,  under  the  skillful  direction  of  Rev. 
R.  H.  Rust,  pastor,  who  was  especially  aided  by  the  very  great  lib- 
erality of  Mr.  Leroy  Sargent,  the  church  debt  ($7,000)  was  paid. 
In  April,  1897,  the  trustees  obtained,  mostly  by  purchase  (a  few  being 
donated)  all  the  pews  owned  by  individuals,  and  the  corporation  (so- 
ciety) was  dissolved.  This  desirable  result  was  due  very  largely  to 
the  untiring  efforts  of  Rev.  A.  J.  Coultas,  the  retiring  pastor,  as  he 
closed  his  five  years'  pastorate.  The  trustees  now  hold  a  beautiful 
church  edifice  and  a  comfortable  parsonage,  the  latter  valued  at 
$5,000. 

REVIVALS  AND  CHURCH  WORK. 

The  most  notable  revivals  in  the  history  of  the  church  have  been 
as  follows:  1857-58,  pastorate  of  Samuel  C.  Brown;  1863,  pastorate 
of  J.  A.  M.  Chapman;  1871,  pastorate  of  Emory  J.  Haynes;  1873-74, 
pastorate  of  Geo.  E.  Reed;  1879,  pastorate  of  R.  H.  Rust,  when  Pen- 
tecost and  Stebbins  were  in  the  citv. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


79 


St.  Paul's  Church  has  aided  greatly  in  the  establishment  of  the 
four  M.  E.  Churches  which  have  been  organized  in  the  city  since  this 

one.  Its  members  have  contributed 
financially,  have  joined  the  member- 
ship, and  some  of  its  officials  have 
even  served  for  some  years  on  the 
boards  of  the  new  organizations.  The 
Deconess  Home  of  this  city  owes  its 
origin  and  its  support  very  largely  to 
the  members  of  St.  Paul's.  In  benev- 
olent collections  it  has  contributed 
$21,000  to  missions  (including  $1,016 
in  the  year  1864),  and  $23,000  to  the 
other  church  benevolences.  The 
total  number  who  have  been  members 
of  our  church  is  1,376.  The  present 
membership  is  400. 


H.    H.    MILLER. 
Ex-President  Epworth  League. 


PASTORS. 


1851-52. 

1853-54. 

1855-56- 

1857-58. 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865 

1866-67. 

1868-69. 

1870-71.' 

1872-74. 

1875-76. 

1877-79. 

i 880-8 i. 

1882-84. 

1885-86. 

1887-88. 

1889-91. 


Ralph  W.  Allen 
John  Hobart 
Micah  J.  Talbot 
Samuel  C.  Brown 
John  B.  Gould 
J.  A.  M.  Chapman 
Samuel  C.  Brown 
Alfred  A.  Wright 
Geo.  A.  Bowler 
Francis  J.  Wagner 
Emory  J.  Haynes 
Geo.  E.  Reed 
Geo.  W.  Woodruff 
R.  H.  Rust 
C.  W.  Gallagher 
E.  M.  Taylor 
H.  D.  Kimball 
J.  C.  Hull 
J.  M.  Williams 


1892-96. 
1897- 


A.  J.  Coultas 

J.  H.  MacDonald 


St.  PAUL'S  PARSONAGE. 


It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  of  all  our  ex-pastors,  one  only  is 
now  preaching  in  this  Conference. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— Charles  E.  Case,  Robert  C.  Brown,  Wm.  S.  Greene, 
James  E.  McCreery,  Thos.  F.  Vickery,  Irani  N.  Smith,  Henry  W. 
Davis,  M.  V.  B.  Benson,  Frank  B.  Akin. 


So 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Stewards — Vernon  Wade,  A.  F.  Shove,  A.  L.  Luther,  Wm.  R 
Winter,  Wm.  H.  Simmons,  Frank  B.  Albro,  Dr.  S.  W.  Gibbs,  H.  H. 
Miller,  Wm.  H.  Goss,  Jas.  Hunter,  Chas.  H.  Cook,  John  H.  Douglass, 
Ellery  C.  Davis. 

Class  Leaders — Jos.  Wood,  Dr.  R.  J.  Thompson,  A.  J.  Marble, 
Geo.  W.  Hadcock. 

Local  Preacher — L.  M.  Fisher. 

Sunday  School — Has  enrolled  45  teachers  and  476  scholars.  Su- 
perintendent, Wm.  S.  Greene;  First  Assistant  Superintendent,  A.  J. 
Marble;  Second  Assistant  Superintendent,  A.  F.  Shove;  Secretary, 
Chas.  E.  Brightman;  Treasurer,  Geo.  K.  Brown;  Librarian,  Harry 
Howland. 

Epu'orth  League — The  Epworth  League,  established  in  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  H.  D.  Kimball,  and  now  numbering  160  members,  has 
the  following  officers:  President,  George  W.  Penniman;  First  Vice- 
President,  H.  H.  Miller;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Kate  M.  Coop- 
er; Third  Vice-President,  Arthur  W.  Smith;  Treasurer,  Miss  Carrie 
Hunter;  Secretary,  Miss  Edna  S.  Negus. 


SUMMERFIELD  M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALL  RIVER,  MASS. 

Summerfield  is  the  youngest  of  the  six  M.  E.  churches  in  Fall 
River,  having  been  organized  May  9,  1875,  with  eight  members  and 
nine  probationers.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of  a  movement  begun  by 

the  "Fall  River  Praying 
Band,"  an  organization 
connected  with  the  other 
M.  E.  churches  of  the 
city.  On  the  evening  of 
April  20,  1874,  this  band 
held  a  meeting  "for  the 
consideration  of  making 
some  movement  for  the 
spreading  of  the  gospel 
truth  and  saving  of  the 
perishing,  especially  in 
those  parts  of  the  city 
wrhere  the  people  were 
without  church  privi- 
SUMMERFIELD  CHURCH.  leges."  An  invitation  to 

hold    a    prayer    meeting 

at  the  home  of  Mr.  John  Wood,  near  the  Narragansett  mill,  was  ac- 
cepted. It  was  attended  by  only  four  persons  besides  the  family  of 
Mr.  Wood.  At  a  second  meeting  the  attendance  was  greatly  in- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


81 


creased,  and  the  spiritual  power  was  so  marked  that  it  was  decided 
to  continue  the  meetings  in  this  vicinity.  Sinners  were  converted  and 
backsliders  reclaimed.  On  the  evening  of  May  18,  1874,  Rev. 
George  E.  Reed,  pastor  of  St.  Paul's,  organized  a  class,  appointing 


SUMMERFIELD  PARSONAGE. 


Mr.  Edward  F.  Anthony,  leader.  Sabbath  services  began  to  be  held 
June  14,  1874,  in  a  hall  belonging  to  Mechanics  mill,  which  were 
well  attended.  In  the  early  fall  a  movement  was  made  to  secure  a 
permanent  place  of  worship.  Messrs.  A.  J.  Marble  and  C.  W.  An- 


REV.    L.    M.    FLOCKEN. 


MRS.  L.  M.  FLOCKEN. 


thony  were  appointed  a  committee  to  look  for  a  suitable  location.  A 
lot  was  given,  on  the  corner  of  North  Main  and  Terry  Streets.  Suffi- 
cient money  having  been  pledged  to  insure  success,  a  meeting  of  the 
subscribers  was  called  on  the  evening  of  September  9.  Rev.  George 


82 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


E.  Reed  was  chosen  chairman.  C.  W.  Anthony,  A.  J.  Marble,  G.  F. 
Hathaway,  D.  M.  Pierce  and  C.  F.  Copeland  were  elected  trustees 
and  authorized  to  proceed  with  the  erection  of  a  chapel.  On  the 
24th  of  January,  1875,  the  upper  vestry  was  opened,  and  the  Sunday 
School  organized,  with  forty-four  members.  The  services  of  Mr. 
John  Hull  were  secured  to  canvass  the  neighborhood.  The  children 
responded  to  his  invitation  in  such  numbers  that  ampler  quarters 
were  soon  needed,  and  the  school  was  moved  into  the  auditorium.  It 
was  now  thought  best  to  secure  a  pastor.  Dr.  W.  V.  Morrison,  P.  E., 
was  consulted  with  regard  to  stationing  a  Conference  minister.  Ac- 
cordingly, Rev.  W.  B.  Heath  was  appointed  at  the  annual  Conference 
held  in  New  Bedford  in  April.  The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Heath,  ably 
assisted  by  his  wife  and  now  sainted  mother,  was  very  successful,  and 


JAMES  HARGRAVES. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


ELISHA  H.   SMALL. 
Epworth   League   President. 


the  new  enterprise  became  a  thriving  and  prosperous  church.  It  was 
dedicated  June  24,  1875,  by  Bishop  Isaac  W.  Wiley,  who  preached 
from  John  xii.,  19.  Twice  in  this  early  period  was  the  devoted  little 
band  stricken  with  bereavement,  by  the  death,  first,  in  August,  1874, 
of  a  Mrs.  Winslow,  an  elderly  lady  who  had  taken  a  deep  interest 
from  the  beginning;  and,  second,  on  March  17,  1875,  of  an  esteemed 
lady,  the  wife  of  Royal  B.  Luther.  Both  passed  away  suddenly  but 
in  great  peace  of  mind. 

The  first  name  of  the  church  was  the  "Terry  Street  M.  E."  In 
1878  it  was  removed  to  the  corner  of  North  Main  and  Hood  Streets, 
a  most  desirable  location  on  North  Park.  It  was  then  called  the 
"North  Main  Street  M.  E.  Church."  During  the  summer  of  1883 
the  building  was  raised,  enlarged,  and  a  capacious  vestry  put  under- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


GEORGE    WHITTAKER, 
President   Board   of  Trustees. 


neath.  The  name  was  again  changed  to  "Park  M.  E.  Church."  Rev. 
Geo.  E.  Fuller  was  then  pastor.  In  1890  a  troublesome  debt,  which 
had  hung  over  the  church  for  some  time,  was  lifted  through  the  heroic 
efforts  of  Rev.  R.  D.  Dyson.  The  name  was  changed  to  "Summer- 
field,"  in  honor  of  the  Rev.  John 
Summerfield,  so  famous  for  eloquence 
in  Methodist  annals.  The  Hon.  John 
S.  Brayton  presented  the  church 
with  a  life-sized  portrait  of  the  re- 
nowned Summerfield,  elegantly 
framed.  Through  Mr.  Dyson's  ef- 
forts, in  1891,  a  commodious  parson- 
age was  erected,  valued  at  $2,600,  on 
which  there  is  still  an  indebtedness  of 
$1,100.  The  church  edifice  is  valued 
at  $12,000,  and  is  free  from  debt. 
Among  the  donors  and  helpers  that 
made  the  church  a  possibility,  there 
are  many  worthy  examples,  the  most 
notable  being  A.  J.  Marble,  first  Sun- 
day School  Superintendent,  Charles 
W.  Anthony  and  R.  S.  Reed. 

The  esprit  de  corps  of  Summerfield  may  be  said  to  have  been 
the  revival  spirit.  In  all  the  pastorates  this  has  been  manifest  to  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  and  there  have  been  large  accessions.  This  is 
necessary  for  the  church  to  hold  its  own  in  the  midst  of  a  floating  pop- 
ulation such  as  is  here  found.  The  most  notable  revivals,  however, 
occurred  in  the  pastorates  of  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Fuller  and  Rev.  M.  S. 
Kaufman,.  Mrs.  M.  N.  Vancott,  the  noted  lady  evangelist,  rendering 
valuable  assistance  in  each.  In  the  present  pastorate  the  church  was 
visited  by  a  gracious  revival  during  the  month  of  January,  1897.  An 
Epworth  League,  organized  in  the  fall  of  1896,  with  a  membership 
of  seventy,  is  working  in  all  the  departments.  A  Junior  League, 
formed  three  years  ago  by  Miss  Nellie  Olson,  deaconess,  is  now  doing 
good  work  under  the  management  of  Mrs.  Sadie  R.  Griffin,  the  present 
deaconess,  with  a  membership  of  forty-five.  A  Young  Men's  Mutual 
Improvement  Society,  which  has  been  connected  with  the  church 
for  several  years,  is  very  helpful,  maintaining,  as  it  does,  a  lyceum 
and  reading  room.  A  circle  of  King's  Daughters  has  proven  itself 
helpful,  as  has  also  the  ever  indispensable  "Ladies'  Social." 

The  present  enrollment  of  the  church  is  190  members  and  eight 
probationers.    That  of  the  Sunday  School  is  300. 


84  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

PASTORS. 

1875-78.  Wm.  B.  Heath  1885-88.  M.  S.  Kaufman 

1878-79.  J.  F.  Sheffield  1888-90.  James  Tregaskis 

1879-82.  Eben  Tirrell,  Jr.  1890-94.  Robert  D.  Dyson 

1882-83.  E.  F.  Smith  1894-96.  Edwin  F.  Jones 

1883-85.  George  E.  Fuller  1896—  Louis  M.  Flocken 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — George  Whittaker,  Chas.  W.  Anthony,  S.  R.  Vestall, 
Edward  M.  Palmer,  Elisha  H.  Small,  Wm.  Squires,  James  Howard, 
James  Hargraves. 

Stezvards — John  Tallman,  Wm.  Squires,  David  H.  Manchester, 
Edward  Dumas,  James  Hargraves,  Thomas  Whomby,  Howarth  Tay- 
lor, Fred  Buffinton,  Alex.  Steen,  H.  B.  Hilton. 

Class  Leaders — Edward  Quarmby,  Horden  Howard,  Howarth 
Taylor. 

Deaconess — Sadie  R.  Griffin. 

Sunday  School — James  Hargraves,  Superintendent;  Wm.  Squires, 
Assistant  Superintendent;  Mrs.  Abbie  Lant,  Superintendent  of  Pri- 
mary Department;  Adah  Buffinton  and  Sarah  Illsley,  Assistants; 
Henry  B.  Hilton,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  H.  Buffinton  and  J.  Dear- 
den,  Assistant  Treasurers;  Nelson  Dumas,  Librarian;  Wm.  Squires, 
Jr.,  Assistant  Librarian;  Malvie  H.  Goff,  Organist;  Mamie  Whitta- 
ker, Assistant  Organist;  Fred  Buffinton,  Chorister. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Emma  Orton,  Viola  Gifford,  Sadie  Vestall,  Sarah 
Whittaker,  Faith  Waterworth,  Sarah  Waterworth,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Flocken, 
Rose  Howard,  Mrs.  Mary  Whittaker,  Jennie  Dumas,  S.  R.  Griffin, 
Malvie  H.  Goff,  Howarth  Taylor,  Mary  Nowell,  James  Howard,  Ed- 
ward Quarmby,  Edward  Atherton,  Lizzie  Peacock,  Edward  Dumas. 

Epivorth  League — Elisha  H.  Small,  President;  Howarth  Taylor, 
First  Vice-President;  S.  R.  Griffin,  Second  Vice-President  ; 
Thomas  Whomby,  Third  Vice-President;  Nelson  Dumas,  Fourth 
Vice-President;  Rose  Howard,  Secretarv;  Sarah  Whittaker,  Treasurer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  FALMOUTH,  MASS. 
By  a  Friend  of  the  Church. 

The  first  mention  in  the  records  of  the  church  bearing  the  name 
""Methodist  Episcopal,"  is  in  1809.  Those  of  that  faith  were  few,  but 
through  the  labors  of  Rev.  Erastus  Otis,  a  society  was  gathered,  which 
in  1811  was  incorporated  as  the  Methodist  Society  of  Falmoutli  and 


THE    FALMOUTH    CHURCH. 


Sandwich.  Methodism  came  into  Falmouth  two  years  before  this. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  January  8,  1807,  in  the  house  of  Captain 
Stephen  Swift.  Dr.  Hugh  G.  Donaldson  was  a  pioneer  in  the  faith; 


B.    B.    KING, 
President   Board   of  Trustees. 


MRS.   JAMES   H.    JONES, 
Junior   League   Superintendent. 


liis  death  occurred  in  1812.     Of  these  early  meetings  no  record  was 
Icept. 

The  meeting  for  incorporation  was  held  in  Pocasset  in  June,  1811. 


86 


SOUr EN 1R  HISTORY. 


A  meeting-house  was  erected  that  year,  near  the  cemetery,  east  of 
Falmouth  village.  In  1829  Wm.  Nye  deeded  to  the  society  a  half 
acre  of  land  near  the  central  portion  of  the  village,  to  which  the 
church  was  removed  in  1848.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  D. 
Trakey  it  was  taken  down  and  the  present  church  building  was  built 
on  the  same  site. 

The  old  church  has  enjoyed  prosperity  and  endured  adversity. 
Her  ranks  have  grown  thin,  and  again  and  again  been  replenished 
by  gracious  revivals.  During  the  pastorate  of  W.  H.  Stetson,  in 
1852,  an  extensive  revival  rewarded  his  faithful  work.  It  was  at  that 
time  that  Rev.  Dr.  G.  M.  Hanilen,  then  a  young  man,  gave  himself 


j.  H.  JONES. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MISS   AGNES   FULTON. 
Epworth   League   President. 


to  the  Lord.  A  few  are  living  and  have  remained  faithful,  but  "some 
have  fallen  asleep."  Children  have  gone  out  from  the  fold  and  built 
homes  for  themselves — West  Falmouth  in  1857,  East  Falmouth  in 
1859,  Woods  Hole  in  1884.  It  gave  to  the  ministry  Rev.  C.  T. 
Hatch,  and  can  claim  with  other  scattered  children  some  of  our  min- 
isters' wives — of  later  years,  the  wives  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Taber  and  of  Rev. 
E.  W.  Eldredge.  A  revival  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  W. 
Hamblin,  a  local  preacher,  gave  to  the  church  a  few  faithful  ones 
who  stand  to-day  as  witnesses  of  God's  power  to  save. 

Larger  and  more  desirable  churches  rather  overshadow  this  little 
church,  but  notwithstanding,  it  has  ever  possessed  a  "faithful  few" 
who  have  made  the  church  one  of  the  strongest  centres  of  spiritual 
power  in  the  town.  Many  members  in  the  other  churches  date  their 
conversions  to  the  little  Methodist  Church  on  Main  Street.  The  old- 
est member  living  is  Mrs.  T.  G.  McLane,  80  years  of  age,  standing  on 
the  "border  land,"  a  witness  for  the  Master. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


This  sketch  would  hardly  be  complete  without  reference  to  Mr. 
B.  B.  King,  who  has  been  one  of  the  financial  and  spiritual  pillars  of 
this  church  through  many  long  years  of  conflict  and  victory. 

Through  the  perseverance  and  help  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Blake,  during 
his  pastorate  in  1895,  a  chapel  addition  was  built  costing  $1,000.  Much 
credit  is  due  Dr.  A.  T.  Walker  and  B.  B.  King  for  help  rendered  at 
that  time.  The  present  value  of  the  church  property  is  $5,000. 

PASTORS. 

1809-10.     Erastus  Otis 

and  B.  F.  Lombard 

1811.  Stephen  Bailey 

1812.  J.  A.  Merrill  ' 

1813.  *Abner  Clark 

1814.  Wm.   Frost 

and  T.  C.  Pierce 

1815-16.  J.  W.  Hardy 

1817.  Shipley  W.  Wilson 

1818.  Benj.  Keith 

1819.  Talman  Stuart 

1820.  Edward  T.  Taylor 
1821-22.  Nathan  Paine 

1823.  Joseph  Allen 

1824.  Frederick  N.  Upham 

1825.  E.  Otis 

1825.  J.  Hutchinson 

1826.  Jotham  Haven 

1827.  Benj.  Hazleton 

1828.  Aaron  Summers 

1829.  Laroy  Sunderland 

1830.  N.  S.  Spaulding 

1831.  Charles  Richardson 

1832.  Amos  Binney 

1833.  George  Stone 

1834.  Abram  Hoi  way 

1835.  J.  B.  Brown 

1836.  Salmon  Hull 

1837.  Thomas  Ely 

1838.  Otis  Wilder 

1839.  Samuel  W.  Coggeshall 

1840.  Henry  H.  Smith 
1841-42.     O.  Robbins 

1843.  Lewis  Bates 

1844.  Wm.  Turkington 

1844.  B.  L.  Sayer 

1845.  Hebron  Vincent 

1847.  Ed.  Trakey 

1848.  P.  T.  Kenney 

1849.  J-  F.  Blanchard 


REV.   R.   H.   SCHUETT. 

1850.  B.  Otheman 

1851.  J.  Macreading 

1851.  W.  Stetson 

1852.  W.  Stetson 
l&52>-  John  Livesey 
l854-55-  Daniel  Webb 
1856-57.  J.  E.  Gifford 
1859-60.  G.  S.  Alexander 
1861-62.  E.  K.  Colby 
1863-64.  J.  B.  Washburn 
1867-68.  A.  B.  Wheeler 
1870.  E.  S.  Fletcher 

1873.  C.  G.  Deming 

1874.  G.  H.  Winchester 
1875-76.  H.  W.  Hamblin 
1879.  W.  I.  Ward 

1879.  W.  L.  D.  Twombly 


88  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

1880.  D.  J.  Griffin  1888.  C.  K.  Jenness 

1881.  W.  C.  Kelt  1889-90.  H.  C.  Scripps 

1882.  J.  M.  Taber  1891.  R.  S.  Moore 

1883.  Thomas  Sims  1892-93.  F.  L.  Streeter 

1884.  T.  A.  Johnstone  1894-95.  J.  E.  Blake 

1885.  Percy  Perinchief  1896.    *  C.  N.  Hinkley 

1886.  A.  G.  Smith  1897—  R.  H.  Schuett 

1887.  E.  W.  Eldridge 

*On  an  old  gravestone  in  the  Methodist  Cemetery  we  find  the  name  of  Ab- 
ner  Clark,  of  North  Salem,  N.  H.;  died  February,  1814,  aged  26. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— B.  B.  King,  W.  T.  Davis,  E.  Handy,  A.  M.  Robbins, 
J.  H.  Jones,  D.  E.  Butler,  H.  O.  Davis. 

Stczvards—C.  A.  Avery  (R.  S.),  B.  B.  King,  S.  E.  King,  H.  O. 
Davis,  T.  G.  Bowman,  F.  S.  Robinson,  H.  Shiverick,  P.  D.  Aurelio, 
C.  M.  Shiverick,  C.  K.  Durgan,  L.  Baker. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  H.  Jones;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Wm.  T.  Davis;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  David  E.  Butler; 
Librarian,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Jones. 

Teachers — James  H.  Jones,  Miss  Agnes  Fulton,  Miss  Maria  Fish- 
er, Mrs.  P.  D.  Aurelio,  Mrs.  J.  T,  Lawrence. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Agnes  Fulton;  First  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Turner;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  B.  F. 
Luce;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Lane;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Robbins;  Secretary,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Shiverick;  Treasurer, 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Jones. 

Junior  League — Mrs.  James  H.  Jones,  Superintendent. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  LITTLE  COMPTON,  R.  I. 

Methodism  first  came  to  Little  Compton  from  Newport,  R.  I.,  in 
the  year  1816;  not  in  any  organized  manner,  but  in  the  home  life  and 
heart  experience  of  Mr.  Lemuel  Sisson  and  family,  and  settled 
at  Seaconnet  Point,  five  miles  distant  from  the  village  proper,  called 
Little  Compton.  Mr.  Sisson's  family  consisted  of  himself  and 
wife  and  eleven  children.  Into  this  home  that  was  so  loyal  and  de- 
voted to  God  and  his  Church,  their  pastor  from  Newport  would  come 
occasionally  and  hold  Methodist  meetings.  Friends  and  neighbors 
were  invited  in.  The  interest  increased  till  in  1820  they  were  able 

to  have  preaching  services  every 
two  weeks,  conducted  by  Rev. 
Daniel  Dorchester,  then  at  Ports- 
mouth. In  1821  a  local  preacher  by 
the  name  of  Levi  Chase,  from  Som- 
erset, held  meetings  around  in  pri- 
vate houses,  during  the  month  of 
June.  On  July  7  of  the  same  year 
Rev.  Daniel  Webb  came  to  Little 
Compton  and  preached  in  Mr. 
Sisson's  home.  After  the  preaching 
service  he  administered  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  to  seven  candi- 
dates, and  then  organized  a  class, 
appointing  Mr.  Sisson  leader. 
During  the  same  year,  on  Septem- 
ber 28  and  29,  was  held  the  first 
Quarterly  Meeting,  under  the 
friendly  shelter  of  Mr.  Sisson's 
roof.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
Methodism  in  Little  Compton. 

For  five  years  regular  preaching  services  were  held  in  this  Mecca 
of  Methodism,  but  such  was  the  growth  of  the  class  that  had  been 
organized  but  four  years,  that  in  1825  it  was  found  necessary  to  build. 
The  first  Methodist  church  was  built  on  the  West  Road,  at  the  head 
of  what  is  now  called  Meeting-House  Lane,  on  a  site  of  land  pur- 
•chased  from  Sylvester  Brownell.  Here  the  Methodists  worshipped 
for  fifteen  years,  when  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  seek  another  loca- 
tion. A  lot,  situated  on  the  Common,  was  granted  by  the  town,  and 
upon  this  the  second  Methodist  church  was  built  in  1839,  and  dedi- 
cated April  1 6,  1840.  The  sermon  of  the  occasion  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Daniel  Webb,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1867,  was  the  old- 


LITTLE    COMPTON    CHURCH. 


OX)  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

est  effective  Methodist  preacher  in  the  United  States,  if  not  in  the 
world.  He  was  assisted  in  the  service  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  Joseph 
Brown.  The  first  church  building  was  sold,  and  to-day  is  occupied 
as  a  residence,  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 

In  this  new  edifice,  thirty-two  years  of  growth  resulted  in  such 
a  sending  down  of  roots  and  pushing  out  of  branches  that  it  was 
again  found  necessary  to  seek  enlarged  quarters.  The  project  of  a 
new  church  was  the  result  of  efforts  put  forth  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Wright, 
pastor  during  the  period  of  1867-69.  It  was  fostered  by  the  society, 
and  brought  to  completion  in  1872,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
S.  T.  Patterson.  The  new  edifice  stands  just  across  the  road  from  the 


REV.   M.   B.  WILSON. 


MRS.   M.   B.   WILSON. 


old  one,  cost  $14,000,  and  was  dedicated  October  22,  1872,  Bishop 
Simpson  officiating,  and  also  preaching  the  sermon,  from  Isaiah  Ix,  13. 
The  old  church  was  sold,  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  Odd  Fellows. 

At  the  time  of  dedication,  $7,000  indebtedness  remained.  This 
was  all  canceled  before  the  dedicatory  service  took  place,  the  people 
determining  to  honor  God  by  presenting  Him  a  house  free  of  debt! 

Entering  into  the  church  we  find  a  good-sized  room  on  each  side 
of  the  passage-way,  for  class  meetings  and  social  purposes,  while  at 
the  end  of  the  hall  is  a  nicely  arranged  Sunday  School  room,  40x40 
feet.  Passing  up  stairs  from  the  entry,  we  are  introduced  into  a  large 
auditorium,  seated  with  circular  pews,  and  accommodating  from  350 
to  400.  The  ceiling  is  finished  in  Gothic  style,  and  neatly  frescoed, 
while  in  the  choir  loft  is  a  large  pipe  organ.  All  the  rooms  are 
illuminated  by  gas,  and  well  furnished  for  the  work  in  hand. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1820.  Daniel  Dorchester 

1821-22.  Isaac  Stoddard 

1823.  Milton  French 

1824.  Joel  McKee 

1825.  Newell  Spaulding 


LEMUEL,    SISSON. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


1826. 
1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830-31. 

I832-33- 
1834. 


David  Culver 
Amos  Binney 
Stephen  Puffer 
Hiram  Walden 
William  Barstow 
Israel  Washburn 
G.  H.  Winchester 


PASTORS. 

1835- 
1836. 

1837-38. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842. 

1843-44. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851. 

1852-53- 

I854-55- 

1 856-57. 

1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861-62. 

1863. 

1864-65. 

1866. 

1867-69. 

1870-71. 

1872-74. 

1875-77. 

1878-79. 

1880-82. 

1883-85. 

1886-88. 

1889-91. 

1892-96. 

1897— 


Henry  Smith 
Daniel  H.  Bannister 
Philip  Crandon 
Joseph  Brown 
John  C.  Goodrich 
Lemuel  Harlow 
John  W.  Case 
Daniel  Webb 
Philip  Crandon 
Richard  Donkersley 
Elihu  Grant 
G.  W.  Rogers 
Carlos  Banning 

B.  L.  Sayer 
J.  B.  Weeks 
Charles  Hammond 
John  N.  Collier 

G.  B.  Cargill 

C.  A.  Merrill 
C.  S.  Sanford 

S.  W.  Coggeshall 
W.  McKendree  Bray 
A.  A.  Wright 
Walter  Ela 
S.  T.  Patterson 
W.  J.  Smith 
J.  O.  Thompson 
J.  H.  Humphrey 
E.  W.  Goodier 
W.  P.  Stoddard 
C.   H.   Ewer 
W.  E.  Kugler 
M.  B.  Wilson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — B.  F.  Wilbur,  President;  Lemuel  Sisson,  Secretary; 
R.  G.  Brownell,  J.  E.  Peckham,  G.  H.  Brownell,  E.  B.  Sisson,  M.  J. 
Sylvia,  Albert  Peckham,  J.  H.  Shaw. 

Stewards— Lemuel  Sisson  (R.  S.),  G.  H.  Brownell  (D.  S.),  E.  B. 
Sisson,  M.  J.  Sylvia,  R.  G.  Brownell,  J.  E.  Peckham,  Mrs.  H.  M. 
Simmons,  Mrs.  Eva  Brownell,  Mrs.  Hattie  J.  Wardell. 

Sunday  School — Lemuel  Sisson,  Superintendent;  Pastor,  Assist- 
ant Superintendent;  Mrs.  J.  Fremont  Wilbur,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer; G.  F.  Bixby,  Assistant;  Abram  Wardell,  Librarian;  G.  F.  Bixby, 
Assistant;  Miss  Dora  L.  Peckham,  Pianist. 

Teachers — Albert  Peckham,  James  E.  Peckham,  Lemuel  Sisson, 
M.  B.  Wilson,  Isaac  Bearse,  Mrs.  Samuel  Wills,  Mrs.  Albert  Peck- 
ham,  G.  Herbert  Brownell,  Ephraim  B.  Sisson,  Mrs.  Abram  Wardell, 
Mrs.  Hattie  Simmons. 

Ladies'  Social — Mrs.  G.  F.  Bixby,  President;  Mrs.  Annie  Brown- 
ell, Vice-President;  Mrs.  Hattie  Wardell,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  LONG  PLAIN,  MASS. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Rochester,  organized  in  1823,. 
disbanded  in  1857,  and  its  few  members  united  with  the  members  upon 
Long  Plain,  forming  the  Long  Plain  society. 

According  to  the  record,  during  the  season  of  1822,  Philip  Cran- 


LONG  PLAIN  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 

don,  Sr.,  conferred  with  some  of  the  more  aged  and  serious  of  his 
neighbors  respecting  the  importance  of  religious  instruction  in  this 
place  (Rochester).  "The  more  aged  and  thoughtful,  by  the  request  of 
P.  Crandon,  agreed  to  procure  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  Some 
wanted  of  one  denomination,  some  of  another,  when  Philip  Crandon 
proposed  that  he  would  obtain  a  supply  for  the  pulpit  half  the  time 
if  his  friends  would  supply  the  other  half." 

Mr.  Crandon  conferred  with  Rev.  Sol- 
omon Sias  of  New  Bedford,  who  presented 
the  matter  to  the  Conference  of  1823.  Rev. 
Phineas  Crandall  was  sent  by  the  Conference 
to  Rochester  and  Middleborough. 

In  1825  Leonard  B.  Griffin  came  to  the 
circuit  and  was  instrumental  in  building  a 
church  in  1828.  The  trustees  of  that  first 
church  built  at  Snipatuit  Hill  were  John 
Bennett,  Jr.,  Philip  Crapo,  William  Bryant, 
Billings  F.  Corey,  Jonathan  Vaughn,  Lewis 
Shaw,  Otis  Shearman,  Philip  Crandon  of 
Rochester,  and  William  Spooner  of  New 
Bedford. 

The  Long  Plain  church  was  organized  in  1857  and  the  member- 
ship was  strengthened  by  the  remaining  members  of  the  Rochester 
church. 


REV.   PHILIP   CRANDON. 
The  First  Pastor. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


93 


Philip  Crandon  had  a  son,  Philip  Crandon,  Jr.,  who  was  appoint- 
ed in  1840  to  the  church  which  his  father  \vas  largely  instrumental  in 
organizing,  and  he  was  the  first  minister  in  charge  of  Long  Plain  ap- 
pointed by  the  Conference. 

The  growth  of  the  church  has  not  been  great.  Under  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Rev.  Jay  Kirkendall,  then  a  student  at  Boston  University 
School  of  Theology,  the  membership  was  largely  increased  and  the 
church  refurnished  and  repaired. 

Pastors — Philip  Crandon,  S.  Wallace,  Henry  H.  Smith,  Josiah  C. 
Allen,  Moses  Chase,  George  H.  Winchester,  S.  T.  Carroll,  Caleb  S. 
Sandford,  Francis  A.  Loomis,  George  H.  Butler,  Erastus  W.  Goodier, 
John  Thompson,  Roderick  J.  Mooney,  John  S.  Bell,  Solomon  P. 
Snow,  William  D.  Wilkinson,  Charles  K.  Jenness,  Asaph  Wicks,  Jay 
Kirkendall  and  J.  Elbert  Thomas,  the  present  pastor. 


REV.    J.    ELBERT    THOMAS. 


JAMES  SHERMAN, 
Chairman   Board   of  Trustees. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — James  Sherman,  Albert  Lawrence,  Thomas  Clark,  J.  E. 
Borden,  James  C.  Gammons. 

Stezvards — Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  L.  Clark,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  E.  Borden, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Lawrence,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Gammons,  Mrs. 
Sarah  J.  Brayley,  Miss  Alice  Hazwell,  James  C.  Gammons  (R.  S.), 
James  Sherman  (D.  S.) 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Thomas  L.  Clark. 

Epworth  League  President — Pastor. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MARION,  MASS. 

This  church  was  organized  July  8,  1865,  by  Rev.  Thos.  Ely,  Pre- 
siding Elder  of  'Sandwich  District,  assisted  by  Rev.  G.  S.  Alexander, 
pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church  in  Wareham,  Mass. 

Thirty  members,  together  with  their  pastor,  Rev.  R.  H.  Dorr, 
from  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church  of  Marion,  presented  them- 
selves in  a  body  for  admission  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  Quarterly  Conference  was  organized,  with  Samuel  Robinbon 
as  class  leader,  and  Daniel  Hall,  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School. 
Rev.  R.  H.  Dorr  was  appointed  pastor  by  Presiding  Elder  Ely,  and 
was  assisted  in  his  work  for  a  short  time  by  Rev.  G.  S.  Alexander  of 
Wareham. 

In  August  following  the  organization  a  grove  meeting  was  held, 
during  which  a  score  of  souls  were  saved,  and  the  church  was  started 
in  its  work.  In  the  grove  meeting  the  pastor  was  assisted  by  Revs. 
J.  A.  Wood  of  Wyoming  Conference,  J.  F.  Sheffield  of  Providence 
Conference,  and  W.  B.  Gorham. 

The  first  pastor  sent  by  the  Conference  was  Rev.  Abel  Alton. 
Services  were  held  for  a  short  time  in  the  district  school  house.  A 
small  church  was  built,  and  dedicated  early  in  1867.  After  preaching 
in  the  new  church  but  once  Mr.  Alton  was  taken  sick  and  died  in 
March  of  1867.  He'  was  a  man  of  God,  and  his  memory  is  still  held 
in  highest  regard.  At  the  next  Conference  session,  Rev.  D.  J.  Griffin 
was  sent  to  Marion  and  remained  two  years.  His  pastorate  was 
almost  one  continual  revival.  The  pastors  who  served  Marion,  and 
whose  names  are  given  below,  had  many  things  to  discourage  them. 
Eor  fifteen  years,  however,  the  spiritual  work  of  the  church  was 
strong;  then  on  account  of  the  death  of  many  of  its  members,  and  the 
moving  away  of  some,  it  suffered  a  period  of  discouragement,  during 
which  its  existence  as  an  organization  was  almost  threatened.  But 
by  the  efforts  and  prayers  of  earnest  men  and  women,  the  tide  was 
turned,  and  its  growth  has  been  steady  ever  since. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Washburn  the  church  build- 
ing was  enlarged  and  new  pews  added.  During  Rev.  Frederick  Up- 
ham's  pastorate  the  church  building  was  deeded  to  the  Methodist 
church,  and  a  debt  of  $200  was  paid.  Rev.  J.  S.  Bell  erected  a 
parsonage  and  secured  an  organ  and  furnace  for  the  church.  Rev. 
J.  S.  Thomas,  during  his  stay,  refitted  and  refurnished  the  church,  and 
added  much  to  its  comfort  and  attractiveness. 

The  membership  of  the  Marion  Church  has  never  been  large, 
and  from  the  nature  of  its  location  can  never  expect  to  be  anything 
more  than  a  live  country  church.  Its  whole  life  has  been  marked  by 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


95 


deep  spirituality.  Many  young  men  and  women  have  been  started 
and  trained  in  the  Christian  life  in  this  church,  and  have  gone  to  swell 
the  ranks  and  power  of  some  of  our  churches  more  favorably  located. 
Among  the  prominent  laymen  of  years  ago  was  William  Briggs 
whose  picture  appears  here.  , 


THE   MARION  PARSONAGE.  WILLIAM  BRIGGS,    (Deceased). 

PASTORS. 


1865. 

1866. 

1867-68. 

1869. 

1870-72. 

1873. 

1873. 

I874-75- 
1876-77. 
1878. 
1879-80. 


R.  H.  Dorr  1881. 

Abel  Alton  1881-82. 

D.  J.  Griffin  1882. 
W.  N.  Chase  1883-84. 
J.  B.  Washburn 

J.  W.  Gaddis  1885. 

W.  McLaughlin  1886-88. 

F.  Upham  1889-92. 

E.  W.  Culver  I893-95- 
T.  B.  Gurney  1896. 
Samuel  McKeown  1896 — 


D.  M.  Rogers 
A.  C.  Peck 
Rev.  Mr.  Sanford 
J.  L.  Litch 

(Congregationalist) 

E.  W.  Eldridge 
J.  S.  Bell 

J.  S.  Thomas 
J.  E.  Duxbury 
Richard  Burn 
Jay  Kirkendall 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Class  Leader — Rums  L.  Savory. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent — Lucretia  Coffin. 

Epzvorth  League  President — Bessie  E.  Briggs. 


£  o 

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M.  E.  CHURCH,  MARSHFIELD,  MASS. 

Marshfield  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  former  home  of  Daniel 
Webster,  Massachusetts'  greatest  statesman. 

In  a  book  entitled  "Father  Taylor,  the  Sailor  Preacher,"  by  Gil- 
bert Haven  and  Thomas  Russell,  on  pages  86  and  89,  we  learn  that 

"Father  Taylor's"  first  pastorate 
was  on  Scituate  Circuit,  in  which 
Marshfield  was  one  preaching  place. 
In  a  letter  by  Mrs.  Taylor  to 
her  sisters,  dated  "Duxbury,  No- 
vember 9,  1819,"  it  is  said:  "The 
prospect  of  a  revival  of  religion  is 
pleasing,  particularly  in  Marshfield 
and  Duxbury."  From  this  we  infer 
that  the  organization  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  here  was  probably  some 
years  prior  to  1819.  There  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  Recording 
Steward  a  book  entitled  "Steward's 
Book,  Marshfield  Circuit,  July  23d, 
1825."  It  is  well  preserved,  and 
contains  important  records  (with  a 
roll  of  forty-one  members  "In  Full" 
in  1825)  which  contains  records  to 
1848.  This  is  the  earliest  local  rec- 
ord we  have  been  able  to  find.  The  first  page  is  as  follows: — 


THE  MARSHFIELD  CHURCH. 


THE    MARSHFIELD    PARSONAGE. 


"QUARTERLY  MEETINGS." 

"First  Quarterly  Meeting  held  July  23,  1825.     Present:  E.  Hyde, 
P.   Elder;   H.    Mayo,   B.   Jones,   circuit   preachers;   Mr.    Gold,   local 


98 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


preacher;  Mr.  Melzer  Sprague,  steward;  Brothers  Hatch,  Williamson, 
Tolman  and  Chandler.  Opened  with  prayer.  Proceeded  to  business. 
Chose  B.  Jones  secretary,  Brothers  Anthony  Hatch  and  John  Chand- 
ler stewards.  Adjourned." 


WEBSTER    HOME. 


There  were  three  Quarterly  Meetings  held  that  Conference  year, 
one  at  Scituate,  the  other  two  at  Marshfield,  the  last  bearing  the  date 
"February  n,  1826,"  at  which  B.  Gurney,  at  his  request,  was  granted 
license  to  preach.  The  first  Quarterly  Conference,  July  6,  1826,  met 


REV.   L.    H.   MASSEY. 


MRS.    L.    H.    MASSEY. 


in  the  "M.  House,"  Daniel  Dorchester,  Presiding  Elder.  This  "M. 
House"  was  the  "Meeting  House"  often  mentioned  in  later  records. 
When  it  was  built  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain,  but  it  stood 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


99 


on  the  hill,  in  the  northwest  part  of  what  is  now  the  village  of  Marsh- 
field,  on  the  same  spot  occupied  now  by  the  church,  which  took  its 
place  in  1854.  The  latter  is  yet  a  neat  frame  building,  painted  white, 
with  a  tall  steeple,  which  can  be  seen  from  many  distant  points. 

The  first  parsonage  was  a  part  of  a  building  brought  from  the 
place  now  occupied  by  Geo.  Baker's  store,  across  the  river,  and  placed 
on  the  same  spot  where  the  parsonage  now  stands.  The  first  mention 
of  the  parsonage  we  find  was  in  1834,  when  the  third  Quarterly  Con- 
ference was  "held  at  the  parsonage."  Prior  to  this  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ferences are  mentioned  as  held  at  the  "Meeting  House,"  and  once  at 
"Dr.  Melzar  Sprague's  house,  September  13,  1831." 

There  is  a  book,  containing  trustees'  records,  dating  from  May 
9,  1853,  down  to  1864.  In  this  book  there  is  a  record  of  the  action 


NATHANIEL    TAYLOR. 
Recording  Secretary. 


CHARLES  M.   HARLOW. 
President   Board   of  Trustees. 


of  the  board  in  building  the  present  parsonage,  in  1860,  to  which  Calvin 
S.  Magoun  proposed  to  give  $300  for  the  purpose,  "if  the  trustees 
would  hire  a  sufficient  sum  to  finish  said  house,  with  the  understand- 
ing if  the  house  ceases  to  be  a  parsonage  of  the  M.  E.  church  within 
fifty  years,  that  the  $300  which  he  pays  shall  be  refunded  to  him  or  his 
heirs."  This  proposition  was  accepted,  the  house  was  built,  and,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1860,  the  trustees  gave  C.  S.  Magoun  a  note  of  $200  "to  cancel 
all  the  -outstanding  bills  on  the  new  parsonage."  How  much  was 
raised  besides  the  $300  donated  and  the  $200  hired  is  not  known;  but 
probably  not  very  much  more  was  required  to  build  such  a  house 
at  that  time. 

The  church  has  been  managed  by  men  of  sturdy  common  sense, 


100 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


•with  consciences  quickened  by  the  grace  of  God.  The  class  meeting, 
now  led  by  Bro.  Bryant  C.  Pratt,  has  been  kept  alive  from  the  first. 
As  early  as  October  26,  1835,  there  was  a  Sunday  School,  governed 
by  a  "S.  S.  Society,"  under  a  well-written  constitution,  in  a  book  con- 
taining records  down  to  1855.  There  is  also  a  "Constitution"  of  "The 
Marshfield  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society  of  the  M.  E.  Church,"  with 
records  as  far  back  as  1870.  This  society  is  still  a  potent  factor  in  the 
work  of  the  church. 


PASTORS. 


1819. 
1820-25. 
1826. 
1827-28. 


1829. 


1830. 


E.  T.  Taylor 

H.  Mayo  and  B.  Jones 

C.  K.  Avery 

Three  quarterly  Con- 
ferences held,  but  no 
pastor's  name  men- 
tioned 

Probably  A.  D.  Mer- 
rill, then  pastor  at 
Duxbury  Village,  but 
no  record 

Lewis  Janson 


L.    MAGOUN    (Deceased). 

1831.  Charles  Macreading 

1832.  Mark  Staple 

1833.  Benjamin  Keith 

1834.  R.  D.  Easterbrook 
1835-36.  William  Ramsdell 

1837.  Enoch  Reading 

1838.  Elisha  B.  Bradford 
1839-40.     Samuel   Palmer 


1841-42. 

1842. 

1844. 

1845. 

1846-47. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852-54- 

1855-56. 

1857-58. 

1859. 

1 860-6 1. 

1862-63. 

1864-65. 

1866. 

1867-68. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871-72. 

1873. 

I874-75. 

1876-78. 

1879-80. 

1881-82. 

1883. 

1884. 

1884-85. 
1886. 

1886-87. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890-91. 

1892. 

1893-94. 

1895-96. 

1897— 


Henry  Mayo 
Dixon  Stebbins 
William  Leonard 
O.  Robbins 
Lozien  Pierce 
John  B.  Gould 
Samuel  Beedle 
Thomas  B.  Blake 
Theoph.  B.  Gurney 
Oliver  P.  Farrington 
Benjamin  K.  Bosworth 
Robert  Gould 
Thomas  C.  Pratt 
Lawton  Cady 
Franklin  Sears 
Josiah  C.  Allen 
Benjamin  F.  Pease 
Joseph  C.  Cramack 
Charles  S.  Mace  (July) 
Nelson  W.  Chase 
Benjamin  K.  Bosworth 
James  H.  Humphrey 
Daniel  M.   Rogers 
John  H.  Allen 
Fred'c  A.  Crafts 
John  F.  Sheffield 
Theoph.  B:  Gurney 
Almon  F.   Hoyt,  April 

to  September 
Benjamin  F.  Jackson 
George    A.    Coe,    May 

to  July 

J.  W.  Luccock 
N.  C.  Ateer 
J.  B.  Ackley 
Merrick  Ransom 
Francis  D.  Sargent 
G.  H.  Hefflon 
John  Thompson 
L.  H.  Massev 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


IOI 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Bryant  C.  Pratt,  W.  F.  Morey,  Nathaniel  Taylor,  E.  N. 
Pratt,  James  E.  Baker,  C.  M.  Harlow,  Eldon  Bailey. 

Stewards — Nathaniel  Taylor  (R.  S.  and  Treasurer),  B.  C.  Pratt, 
Charles  M.  Harlow,  W.  F.  Morey,  E.  N.  Pratt,  Eldon  H.  Bailey. 

Class  Leader — B.  C.  Pratt. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  E.  N.  Pratt;  Assistant,  Hattie 
Belknap,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  E.  N.  Pratt;  Librarian,  Flora 
Lewis;  Assistant  Librarian,  Mr.  Eldon  Bailey. 

Teachers — Nathaniel  Taylor,  W.  F.  Morey,  Martha  Taylor,  Hattie 
Belknap. 

Rcscri'c  Teachers — Mrs.  M.  A.  Massey,  Jennie  Bailey,  Leroy 
Bartlett. 

Christian  Endeavor  Society — Organized  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Hefflon, 
July  i,  1893.  President,  Miss  Martha  Taylor;  Vice-President,  Eldon 
Bailey;  Secretary,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Massey;  Treasurer,  W.  F.  Morey. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WEST  DUXBURY,  MASS. 

In    1829  the   Rev.  A.   D.   Merrill,  then  pastor  of  the  Methodist 

Episcopal  Church  at  Duxbury,  held 
occasional  evening"  services  in  the 
West  Duxbury  school  house,  and 
one  person  was  converted. 
Rev.  Lewis  Janson,  pastor  at 
Marshfield,  held  services  here  once 
a  month,  and  one  other  person  was 
converted,  in  1830.  In  the  year 

1831,  under    the    labors    of    Rev. 
James     Bicknell,     many     professed 
conversion,   and   a   class   of   eleven 
was    formed,    and    connected    with 
the      church      at      Duxbury.         In 

1832,  by     the     aid     of    the     Dux- 
bury      Church,      a      meeting-house 
was     erected     at     Ashdod,     where 
services    were    held,    and    in    Octo- 
ber    the      house      was     dedicated, 
the        sermon        being       preached 

THE   WEST  DUXBURY   CHURCH.          b>"  RCV'  B"  R  Lombard, 

the  Presiding  Elder.  A  pas- 
tor being  petitioned  for,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Stetson  was  appointed — 
1833 — remaining  two  years. 


102 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Thus  began  the  work,  and  thus,  in  four  years  from  the  beginning, 
a  new  charge  was  added  to  the  Conference. 

"Until  1842,"  says  one  of  its  historians,  "the  church  was  blessed 
with  general  success."  But  at  this  date  occurred  the  "Wesleyan 
Secession,"  at  Dtixbury,  when  several  members  withdrew  from  this 
church,  disturbing  its  harmony,  and  reducing  its  financial  power.  The 
next  year  (1843),  under  Rev.  William  Leonard,  however,  was  a  pros- 
perous one  in  conversions  and  accessions  to  the  membership,  and, 
the  Wesleyan  Church  (at  Marshfield)  having  dissolved,  some  that 
had  withdrawn  returned,  and  the  house  being  enlarged,  under  Rev. 
J.  C.  Fifield,  in  1848,  continued  to  prosper.  In  1867,  following  up 
business  and  the  population,  it  was  decided  to  sell  the  old,  and  build 
a  new  church.  Under  the  labors  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Washburn,  the 
pastor,  the  location  on  the  corner  of  High  and  Taylor  Streets  was 
selected,  and  the  year  1868  witnessed  the  erection  of  the  present 
church,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Edwin  D.  Hall,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000, 
being  dedicated  June  n,  Rev.  Samuel  F.  Upham  preaching  the  ser- 
mon. It  was  a  joyful  day,  and  under  an  appeal  by  the  pastor,  $800 
was  raised  at  the  time,  leaving  a  debt  of  $2,700.  This  was  further 
reduced  by  some  $300,  available  from  the  sale  of  the  former  house  and 
lot.  So  that  at  the  close  of  the  year,  the  pastor  wrote  "The  dove  of 

peace,  with  her  snow-white  wings, 
hovers  o'er  us;  the  finances  of  the 
church  in  a  safe  condition;  all  assess- 
ments for  benevolences  met,  and  no 
blanks  on  the  minutes  of  the  year." 
This  year,  also,  ten  conversions  and 
nine  accessions  were  reported.  The 
debt  on  the  church  hung  heavily  upon 
the  society,  being  reduced  from  time 
to  time,  for  a  number  of  years,  until 
it  was  finally  removed,  in  the  year 
1888,  by  the  heroic  efforts  of  Rev.  F. 
L.  Brooks,  the  pastor,  and  his  grateful 
people.  A  jubilee  service  and  bon- 
fire, which  consumed  the  note,  marks 
the  day  on  which  the  heavy  burden 
was  lifted. 

Prior  to  this  time,  the  business  interests  of  the  place  declined,  and 
the  church  was  weakened  both  numerically  and  financially.  The  par- 
sonage was  sold,  and  the  church  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
served,  principally,  by  students  of  the  School  of  Theology  of  Boston 
University.  The  boys,  however,  and  the  other  pastors,  have  all  done 


GEORGE  T.   CHANDLER, 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


SOU  I' EN  IK  HISTORY. 


103 


noble  work,  and  a  kind  and  noble  people  are  yet  "holding  up  the 
pastor's  hands,"  and  rejoicing  in  the  highest  of  all  privileges,  that  of 
being  "laborers  together  with  God." 

PASTORS. 

Including,  as  the  three  first  named,  those  under  whom  the  work 
began : 


1829.  A.  D.  Merrill  1862. 

1830.  Lewis  Janson  1863-64. 

1831.  James  Bicknell  1865-67. 

1832.  The    Pastor    of    Dux-  1868. 

bury  1869. 

1833-34.  Thomas  Stetson 

1835.  Lemuel  Harlow 

1836.  Henry  B.  Skinner  1870-71. 

1837.  Elisha  B.  Bradford  1872-73. 
l838-39-  (Ziba    B-    C.,    changed 

by  General  Court  to)  1875. 

Howard  C.  Dunham  1876. 

1840.  .  Chester  Field,  Jr.  1877. 

1841.'  Lewis  Dwight  1878-79. 

1842.  Aaron  Joslin  1880. 

1843.  William  Leonard  1881. 

1844.  George  H.  Winchester  1883. 

1845.  Robert  R.  Thompson  1884. 

1846.  George  W.  Rogers  1885. 

1847.  Addison  Woodard  1886. 
1848-49.  John  C.  Fifield  1887-88. 
1850-51.  Oliver  P.  Farrington  1889. 
1852.  John  Tasker  1890. 
l853"S5-  Samuel  Norris  1891. 
l856-57-  Josiah  C.  Allen  1892. 
1858-59.  George  Watson  1893-04. 

1860.  Howard  C.  Dunham  1895-6. 

1 86 1.  James  B.  Weeks.  1897— 


Isaac  Forbes 

Rums  Gerrish 

J.  B.  Washburn 

Fdwin  D.  Hall 

G.   W.  Wooding  (until 

November)    and     H. 

C.  Dunham 
Charles  Hammond 
(J.    R.    Ward   to   July) 

W.  L.  Phillips 
Joseph  Marsh 
Silas  Sprowls 
J.  H.  Vincent 
Justus  H.  Nelson 
William  Willcocks 
B.  K.  Bosworth 
Winfield  W.  Hall 
W.  L.  Hood 
B.  W.  Hutchinson 
Arthur  N.  Searles 
F.   L.  Brooks 

F.  E.  Highway 

G.  A.   Sisson 
Francis  D.  Sargent 
Everett  S.  Hammond. 
George  H.  Hefflon 
John  Thompson 
Lucius  H.  Massev 


Note — From  records  given,  from  1855  to  1868,  a  period  of  13 
years,  the  average  estimate  for  pastoral  support  was  $434.61 ;  the  aver- 
age amount  paid  was  $392.37,  a  deficit  in  13  years  of  $455.  The  whole 
amount  during  this  period  for  Conference  Claimants  wras  $61 ;  raised 
for  missions,  $88;  Bible  cause,  $8;  Tract  Society,  $14;  Sunday  School 
Union,  $n;  miscellaneous,  $8;  membership,  in  this  period  ranged 
from  61  to  87;  average,  about  70  (for  n  years  70  and  a  fraction). 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — John  J.  McFarlin,  George  F.  Chandler,  Chas.  F.  How- 
land. 


IO4 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Stewards — John  J.  McFarlin,  George  F.  Chandler,  Charles  F. 
Rowland,  Airs.  H.  D.  Thrasher,  Mrs.  Cordelia  Randall,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth McFarlin. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  T.  Chandler;  Assistant 
Superintendent, -John  J.  McFarlin;  Secretary,  Ethel  Rowland;  Libra- 
rian, Albert  Estes;  Assistant,  Miss  S.  E.  Snell;  Teachers,  Mrs.  H.  D. 
Thrasher,  E.  T.  McFarlin,  Miss  S.  E.  Snell,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Lewis,  Miss 
Lizzie  Alden. 

Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. — President,  Miss  Lizzie  Alden;  Vice-President, 
Miss  "Lizzie  Atwood;  Secretary,  Miss  S.  E.  Snell;  Treasurer,  Miss  Al- 
berta Estes. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MARSTON'S  MILLS,  MASS. 

Aaron  Lummis  was  the  first  regularly  appointed  Methodist  Epis- 
copal preacher  in  charge  of  the  town  of  Barnstable.  This  was  in  the 
year  1813,  and  it  was  during  this  year  that  the  people  of  Marston's 
Mills  heard  the  Gospel  first  from  the  lips  of  a  Methodist  preacher. 


MARSTON'S   MILLS   CHURCH. 

But  although  there  were  Methodist  preachers  in  the  field  continuously 
from  this  time,  yet  it  was  not  until  1826  that  regular  classes  were 
formed  upon  the  circuit,  and  among  the  other  classes  organized  was 
the  Hamblin's  Plains  class,  which  many  years  later  became  a  part  of 
the  Marston's  Mills  class.  It  was  in  1829  that  the  church  building 
which  now  stands  at  Marston's  Mills  was  purchased  from  the  Yar- 
mouth class  and  moved  to  its  present  site. 

In  the  year  1838  Marston's  Mills  was  cut  off  from  the  Barnstable 
circuit,  and  became  a  separate  station;  and  their  first  quarterly  Con- 
ference was  held  July  24  of  that  same  year;  and  Nathan  Hamblin 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


105 


was  chosen  secretary  of  the  Conference,  which  office  he  continued  to 
hold  for  thirty-three  years.  The  station  then  comprised  Osterville, 
Cotuit  Port  and  Hamblin's  Plains,  as  well  as  Marston's  Mills.  The 
class  at  this  place,  which  four  years  later  was  named  the  Marston's 
Mills  class,  was  led  by  Joel  Hamblin,  who  for  a  full  half  century  or 
until  the  time  of  his  death  was  continued  as  the  class  leader. 

In  1859,  thirty  years  after  its  erection,  the  rain  was  beating  in 
through  the  windows  and  leaky  roof  of  the  building.  The  seats  were 
old  and  uncomfortable  and  the  members  were  disheartened.  But  one 
of  its  own  members,  Thomas  C.  Pratt,  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
appointed  pastor  of  the  church,  and  by  his  zealous  labors  the  build- 
ing was  remodeled  and  repaired  free  from  debt. 


MRS.  A.  J.  BODGE, 

Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


MRS.    A.    G.    CROSBY, 
Epworth   League   President. 


The  society  erected  a  tent  on  Yarmouth  Camp-ground  in  1863, 
and  the  church  building  was  again  remodeled  in  1888,  during  Rev. 
E.  B.  Gurney's  pastorate. 

The  history  of  this  church  is  that  of  a  few  faithful  people  strug- 
gling to  keep  a  strong  and  constant  religious  influence  in  the  com- 
munity, and  although  the  society  has  passed  through  various  degrees 
of  prosperity,  yet  it  may  be  said  to  its  credit,  that  it  has  never  dis- 
banded nor  ceased  to  hold  regular  services,  but  for  the  space  of  eighty- 
four  years  has  been  supplied  continuously  with  preaching  and  most 
of  the  time  has  been  under  pastoral  care.  It  is  at  present  a  student 
supply  appointment. 

PASTORS. 

1813-14.     Aaron  Lummis  1817-18. 

1815-16.     Stephen  Bailey  1819. 

1817-18.     Benjamin  R.  Hoyt  1820. 


Moses   Fifield 
Benjamin  Hazleton 
Isaac  Jennison 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1821-22.     Edward  L.  Taylor  and 
Benjamin  Brown 

1823.  Lewis     Bates,     George 

Weeks  and   La   Roy 
Sutherland 

1824.  Lewis  Bates  and  George 

1825.  Hezekiah  Thatcher 

1826.  Hezekiah  Thatcher  and 

Charles  G.  Chase 

1827.  Enoch      Bradley      and 

T.  G.  Brown 

1828.  Warren     Wilbur     and 

Dan  Robinson 

1829.  Hector  Brownson  and 

Lemuel  Heath 

1830.  Hector   Brownson   and 

Charles  Noble 


REV.  JOHN  W.  H.   MILLAR. 

1831.  Frederick  Upham   and 

Joseph  Brown 

1832.  F.    Upham   and    Apol- 

los  Hale 

1833.  Abram     Holway      and 

Richard    Livesey 

1834.  William   Ramsdell  and 

Benjamin  Walker 

1835.  Joel  Steele  and  D.   K. 

Bannister 

1836.  Joel  Steele  and  Henry 

H.  Smith 

1837.  Erastus  Otis 


1838-39.     Lemuel  Harlow 

1840.  James  Bicknell 

1841.  Wareham  Campbell 

1842.  L.  H.  Beale 

1843.  George  W.  Stearns  and 

GeorgeH.  Winchester 

1844.  Otis  Wilder,  Mr.  Hub- 

bard,       Mr.       Rood, 
J.  Fifield,  S.  G.  Usher 

1845.  John  Fifield  and  S.  G. 

Usher 

1846-47.     Abram  M.  Osgood  and 
Lorenzo  Barber 

1848.  Onesiphorus  Robbins 

1849.  Addison  Woodard 
1850-51.     Joseph  Marsh 
1852.  Lemuel  Harlow 
1853-54.     Benjamin  Haines 

1855.  Thomas  W.  Douglas 

1856.  Nathaniel  Swift 

1857.  Abram  Holway 

1858.  Thomas  C.  Pratt 

1859.  George  W.   Green  and 

Joseph  Marsh 

1860.  J.  A.  Hunt  and  Edward 

Edson 

1861.  Charles  A.  Carter 
1862-64.     John  S.  Fish 
1865.           Moses  Brown 
1866-67.     Philip  Crandon 
1868-69.     Lawton  Cady 

1870.  Francis  A.  Loomis  and 

James  R.  Gushing 
1871-72.     Charles  E.  Walker 

1873.  R-  H.  Dorr 

1874.  Charles  A.  Carter 

1875.  Mosely  Dwight 

1876.  Paul     Townsend      and 

Caleb  T.  Rotch 
1877-79.     John  S.  Fish 
1 880-8 1.     Philo  Hawkes 
1882.          H.  W.  Hamblin 
1883-87.     A.  H.  Somers  (Cong.) 
1888-89.     E.  B.  Gurney 
1890-91.     T.  H.  Corsen 
1892-94.     Oscar  E.  Johnson 

1895.  G.  A.   Sisson 

1896.  George  Ross  and  C.  H. 

Taylor 

1897.  John  W.  H.  Millar 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


107 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — A.  J.  Bodge,  Edmund  Hamblin,  Warren  Hamblin, 
Clifton  Fuller,  Oliver  Crocker,  J.  W.  R.  Sprague  and  Dr.  J.  H. 
Higgins. 

Stewards — A.  J.  Bodge  (D.  S.),  Clifton  Fuller,  Eunice  Fuller, 
Esther  Grigson,  Nancy  Crocker,  Sophia  Hamblin,  Sarah  P.  Fuller 
(R.  S.),  Persis  Coleman,  A.  G.  Crosby,  Hattie  Mecarta,  Christina 
Hamblin. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Andrew  J.  Bodge;  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  Clifton  Fuller;  Secretary,  Addie  G.  Crosby. 

Epivorth  League — President,  Mrs.  A.  G.  Crosby;  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Ann  Hinckley;  Secretary,  Amy  W.  Cammett;  Treasurer,  Edna 
Fuller. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MIDDLEBORO,  MASS. 

The  earliest  records  of  Methodism  in  Middleboro  are  dated  Sep- 
tember 15,  1823,  when  a  number  of  articles  were  drawn  up  and  sub- 
scribed to.  The  following  composed  the  membership:  Edward 
Winslow,  Deborah  Winslow,  Martha  Thomas,  Mercy  Barden,  Susan 

S.  Clark,  Hannah  Clark,  Augusta 
Clark,  Nathan  Savery,  Alanson 
("ammons,  Nathan  Perkins. 

The  first  business  meeting  after 
organization  \vas  held  May  3,  1824. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to 
make  repairs  on  the  Town  House 
to  fit  it  up  for  holding  religious 
services,  permission  having  been 
obtained  from  the  selectmen.  The 
expense  incurred  was  $9. 

Rev.  Asa  Kent  was  the  first  pas- 
tor, beginning  his  labors  in  May, 
1824,  and  serving  two  years. 

October     12,     1830,    during    the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  David  Culver,  it 
\vas  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house. 
A   site   was    chosen   in    Fall   Brook 
as  being  most  central  for  the  mem- 
bership,  and   the   chapel   was   dedi- 
cated early  in  1831.     Worship  was  continued  here  until  the  death  of 
Rev.  Israel  Washburn  in  1861,  when  the  chapel  was  closed,  and  re- 
mained so  until  1863,  when  Rev.  J.  O.  Adams,  a  local  preacher  (now  a 


THE    MIDDLEBORO    CHURCH. 


io8 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


member  of  the  Conference),  came  here  in  the  employ  of  the  Star  Mills 
Company.  Being  an  aggressive  Methodist,  Mr.  Adams  succeeded 
in  opening  the  house,  and  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Fall  Brook  for  four 
months.  It  was  then  thought  best  to  open  a  meeting  at  the  Center. 
A  hall  was  taken,  over  the  furniture  store  of  Mr.  George  Soule,  and 
Rev.  Aaron  Gill,  a  local  preacher,  was  engaged  to  supply  the  desk. 
In  February,  1865,  a  chapel  formerly  occupied  by  the  Baptists  was 
leased  for  three  years  and  fitted  up  at  an  expense  of  $300.  March  9, 
1865,  this  house  was  opened  for  worship,  Rev.  John  Howson  of  East 
Weymouth  preaching  in  the  morning  and  Rev.  Levi  Abbott,  pastor  of 


THE  MIDDLEBORO  PARSONAGE. 

the  Baptist  church  in  Middleboro,  preaching  in  the  evening.  After  the 
evening  sermon  the  use  of  the  pews  was  sold  for  one  year  for  $240. 

Meanwhile  services  continued  to  be  held  in  the  Fall  Brook  chapel 
a  part  of  nearly  every  year  until  the  latter  part  of  1889.  After  J.  Q. 
Adams  the  following  labored  there:  Theophilus  Brown,  Mr.  Pierson, 
Rev.  Willard  Packard  (Baptist  preacher).  In  1878  Roland  Gammons 
conducted  the  services,  and  he  was  followed  by  John  Hull. 
A  Sunday  School  was  organized  with  Winslow  Pratt  Superin- 
tendent, having  an  average  attendance  of  40.  Rev.  Ephraim  Hunt  next 
had  charge,  and  was  followed  by  H.  N.  Donnell,  Rev.  Mr.  Osgood 
and  Rev.  Charles  Pittsley.  After  a  year  of  intermission  the  house  was 
again  opened  for  services  in  1889  by  Rev.  T.  J.  Everett,  pastor  at  the 
Center,  but  with  the  approach  of  cold  weather  the  services  were  dis- 
continued and  the  chapel  was  closed  until  it  was  finally  sold  in  the 
year  1896. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  present  church  at  the  Center  was  laid 
August  21,  1868,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Ely,  Presiding  Elder  of  Sandwich 
district,  $5,000  having  been  secured  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  Freeman 
Ryder,  for  the  erection  of  the  building.  The  church  was  dedicated 
February  3,  1869,  Rev.  W.  F.  Warren,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  preaching 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


109 


the  dedication  sermon.  The  cost  of  the  church  was  $12,500,  with  a 
debt  of  $7,500. 

During  the  next  pastorate,  that  of  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Patterson,  all 
but  $500  of  the  debt  was  provided  for,  and  the  membership  of  the 
church  was  increased  from  36  in  lull  and  4  probationers  to  130  in  full 
and  25  probationers.  Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  J.  Carroll, 
1872-74,  $500  w7as  secured  from  the  Church  Extension  Society  to  pay 
the  balance  of  the  debt  on  the  church.  During  these  three  years  there 
was  a  net  increase  of  56  members. 

The  years  1876-79,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  T.  Towle, 
were  very  prosperous.  The  church  was  painted,  a  concrete  walk  laid, 
the  vestry  enlarged,  a  new  organ  added,  a  bell  put  in  the  tower  and  a 
deficiency  in  the  running  expenses  made  up.  An  extensive  revival 
brought  the  membership  up  from  130  to  280.  During  the  pastorate  of 


REV.  GEORGE  A.  GRANT. 


MRS.  GEORGE  A.  GRANT. 


A.  W.  Kingsley,  1879-81,  the  vestry  was  much  improved  and  two 
rooms  were  built  on  to  the  rear  of  the  church  for  the  use  of  the  Ladies' 
Society,  class  rooms,  etc.,  the  expense,  $500  to  $600,  being  assumed  by 
the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  At  this  time  the  membership  is  reported  as 
244.  A  pipe  organ  was  secured  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W. 
Hunt.  A  Young  People's  Society  is  one  of  the  memorials  of  the  work 
of  Rev.  T.  J.  Everett,  organized  at  first  as  a  Christian  Endeavor  So- 
ciety September  29,  1889,  and  in  the  succeeding  pastorate  taking  a 
charter  as  Everett  Chapter,  No.  8,029,  Epworth  League.  T.  J. 
Everett  gave  a  decided  impulse  to  the  work  among  the  young,  and  a 
large  children's  class  was  the  result.  In  August,  1889,  by  the  death 
of  one  of  the  most  devoted  members,  Mr.  Abner  L.  Westgate,  the 
church  came  into  possession  of  a  handsome  parsonage  property  on  the 
corner  of  School  and  Pierce  streets. 


no 


SOl't'ENIR  HISTORY 


Quite  extensive  improvements  were  made  in  the  church  during 
the  administration  of  Rev.  W.  F.  Davis,  1892-95.  The  house  was  re- 
shingled  and  an  addition  built  in  the  rear,  affording  room  for  the 
organ,  with  large  chorus  choir,  back  of  the  pulpit.  A  beautiful  new 
pipe  organ  has  replaced  the  old  one.  The  exterior  and  interior  have 
been  thoroughly  renovated  and  beautified,  making  a  most  delightful 
church  home  and  a  house  of  worship  which  is  a  credit  to  the  church 
and  town. 


KELWRY  D.  SMITH, 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


LOUIS   D.    CHURBUCK, 

Epworth    League    President. 


PASTORS. 

1824-25.  Asa  Kent  1829.          Elias  C.  Scott 

1826.  Isaac  Stoddard  1830-31.     David      Culver      (term 

1827.  Without  Pastor  not  known) 
1827-28.  Lemuel  Tompkins 

The  records  give  the  following,  but  no  date  of  their  service :  Amos 
Binney,  Lemuel  Harlow,  Thomas  Brown.  Josiah  Lytch,  Proctor 
Marsh,  Otis  Wilder,  George  Winchester,  Sr.,  Elijah  Willard.Ebenezer 
E wings,  William  Tamplin,  Edmund  E.  Standish,  George  Macomber, 
George  H.  Winchester,  Philip  Crandon,  Asa  X.  Bodfish,  Israel  Wash- 
burn. 


Aaron  Gill 
Samuel  F.  Whidden 
F.  C.  Newell 
Freeman  Ryder 
Samuel  T.  Patterson 
Samuel  J.  Carroll 


1879-81.     A.  W.  Kingsley 
1882-83.     G.  W.  Hunt 
E.  L.  Hyde 
S.  McBurney 
T.  J.  Everett 
W.  F.  Davis 


1864. 

1864-66. 

1866-67. 

1 868. 

1869-71. 

1872-74. 

Also  E.  A.  Manning,  E.  D.  Hall  and  theological  students  as  sup- 
plies. 


1884-86. 
1887-88. 
1889-91. 
1892-95. 


Charles  Macreading 
1876-79.     E.  D.  Towle 


1896 —   George  A.  Grant 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  I:I 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — James  L.  Jenney,  Sylvanus  Mendall,  Samuel  S.  Lovell, 
Martin  O.  Rounsville,  Nathaniel  Warren,  Granville  L.Thayer,  Francis 
M.  Sherman,  William  M.  Raskins,  Levi  B.  Tinkham. 

Trustees  of  Parsonage — Thomas  W.  Pierce,  Sylvanus  Mendall, 
James  L.  Jenney. 

Stewards—  Henry  D.  Smith,  R.  S.;  William  M.  Raskins,  D.  S.; 
Thomas  W.  Pierce,  John  P.  Arnold,  Levi  B.  Tinkham,  Ezra  J.  Kelley, 
Marcus  M.  Thompson,  Clifford  S.  Lovell,  Frank  N.  Woodward,  A. 
Ellis  B.  Leach,  Andrew  J.  Bisbee,  Reuben  W.  Leonard,  Louis  Chur- 
buck. 

Class  Leaders — Francis  M.  Sherman,  Maria  S.  Raines,  Rev. 
George  A.  Grant. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Henry  D.  Smith;  Assistant 
Superintendents,  Reuben  W.  Leonard,  Ellice  J.  Stone;  Secretary, 
Batie  A.  Smith;  Treasurer,  Martin  O.  Rounsville;  Librarian,  Levi  B. 
Tinkham;  Assistant  Librarians,  Flora  Leonard,  Ella  E.  Barden,  Etta 
D.  Taylor,  Thersa  Norton ;  Organists,  E.  Maud  Francis,  Lottie  Tink- 
ham. 

Teachers — George  A.  Grant,  Louis  D.  Churbuck,  Isa  Pittsley, 
Julia  Tinkham,  Susie  H.  Hunt,  Etta  G.  Baker,  Linnie  W.  Pratt,  Car- 
rie Bisbee,  Emma  Haskins,  Maria  S.  Raines,  Rose  Clark,  James  L. 
Jenney,  Maria  C.  Lovell,  Louisa  Francis,  Nellie  Stevens,  Jennie 
Vaughn,  Frank  N.  Woodward,  Eva  L.  Grant,  Sophia.  Soule,  Eliza 
Atwood,  Minnie  D.  Walker,  Florence  Mendall. 

L,adies'  Aid  Society — President,  Mrs.  Thomas  W.  Pierce;  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Thomas  Soule. 

Willing  Workers — (Home  Missions) — President,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Soule;  Secretary,  Mallie  A.  Taylor;  Treasurer,  Flora  Leonard. 

King's  Daughters — President,  Airs.  A.  J.  Bisbee;  Secretary,  Mrs. 
John  P.  Arnold;  Treasurer,  Ida  Atwood. 

Epworth  League — President,  Louis  D.  Churbuck;  First  Vice- 
President,  Susie  Hunt;  Second  Vice-President,  Linnie  Pratt;  Third 
Vice-President,  E.  Maud  Francis;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Lillie 
Breach;  Secretary,  Samson  McFarlin;  Treasurer,  Edward  N.  Hunt. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MYRICKS,  MASS. 

Myricks  is  a  small  place  situated  on  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H. 
Railroad,  between  New  Bedford  and  Taunton.  It  is  known  to  the 
traveling  public  as  a  railroad  junction  where  long  and  sometimes  very 
undesirable  delays  are  often  made  to  connect  with  trains. 

Just  out  of  sight  of  the  depot,  almost  surrounded  by  the  shades 
of  the  primeval  forest,  stands  the  little  white  church,  making  a  pretty 

picture  with  its  green  back- 
ground. This  church  was  built 
for  a  Protestant  Methodist 
church,  but  was  reorganized  into 
a  Methodist-Episcopal  Churoh  in 
1871,  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Brown  be- 
ing at  that  time  Presiding  Elder 
of  the  Fall  River  District. 

Rev.  J.  G.  Gammons  became 
the  pastor  of  the  new  church, 
which  was  composed  of  seven- 
teen members.  There  has  been 
since  that  time  no  remarkable 
growth  or  sweeping  revivals,  yet 
this  church  has  been  steadily  en- 
larging both  in  numbers  and  in- 
fluence. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J. 
B.  Washburn,  the  Ladies'  Circle 

placed  a  bell  on  the  church.  Some  needed  repairs  were  made,  and 
besides  these  signs  of  temporal  prosperity  the  church  was  blessed  with 
a  revival  in  which  about  twenty  were  converted. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  T.  Hatch  quite  extensive  repairs 
were  made  on  the  church  building.  The  old  high  gallery  was  taken 
down,  a  place  was  made  for  the  choir  beside  the  pulpit,  a  new  pulpit 
suit  and  communion  service  were  added,  the  floors  were  newly  carpeted 
and  the  church  was  painted  within  and  without,  all  at  an  expense  of 
$400. 

The  society  owns  a  beautiful  grove  adjoining  the  church,  in  which 
for  some  years  the  annual  clam-bake  has  been  given. 

This  church  has  been  quite  largely  supplied  by  students  from  Bos- 
ton University.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  H.  Critchlow,  a 
convenient  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1400,  which  will  now  pro- 
vide a  home  for  a  man  with  a  family.  A  legacy  left  some  years  ago 
by  Hephzibah  Taylor  formed  a  nucleus  for  this  new  parsonage. 


MYRICKS   CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 

1871-73.  J.  G.  Gammons  1884-85. 

1874.  Solomon  P.  Snow  1886. 

1875-77.  J.  B.  Washburn  1887-89. 

1878.  F.  D.  Sargent  1890-91. 

1879.  Charles  H.  Farnsworth  1892. 

1880.  Charles  Stokes  1893-94. 
1881-82.  Charles  T.  Hatch  1895. 
1883.  George  Hudson                1896 — 


J.  O.  Denning 
John  Livesey 
George  H.  Flynn 
Benjamin  J.  Chew 
F.  B.  White 
C.  E.  DeLaMater 
H.  H.  Critchlow 
E.  B.  Gurney 


J.  A.  Morrison  and  Benjamin  C.  Gillis  each  supplied  the  church 
a  month  in  1887  and  1890  respectively. 


REV.   E.   B.   GURNEY. 


MRS.   E.    B.   GURNEY. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — John  F.  Allen,  Ebenezer  Macomber,  Charles  Staples, 
James  Paull,  Mrs.  Hannah  Williams,  Mrs.  Hannah  Cole. 

Stewards — John  F.  Allen,  O.  M.  Farmer,  Charles  Staples,  Fannie 
Peirce,  Mrs.  Melissa  Farmer,  Mrs.  Hannah  Williams,  Mrs.  Amy 
Anthony,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  P.  Allen,  Mrs.  Mary  Pierce,  Mrs.  Amy 
Staples,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gushing. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Pastor;  Assistant  Superintend- 
ent, James  Paull;  Secretary,  Albert  F.  Haskins;  Treasurer,  Charles  O. 
Farmer. 

Epworth  League — President,  Pastor;  First  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  P.  Allen;  Second!  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Amy  Anthony; 
Third  Vice-President,  Edith  Haskins;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
E.  B.  Gurney;  Secretary,  Ada  D.  Anthony;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Melissa 
Farmer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NANTUCKET,  MASS. 

The  first  Methodist  preacher  who  ever  visited  this  island  was  Rev. 
Jesse  Lee,  who  came  here  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1797,  a  few  weeks 

after  the  inauguration  of  John 
Adams  as  President  of  the  United 
States.  He  remained  eighteen  days 
and  preached  sixteen  sermons.  In 
1798  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling,  a  na- 
tive of  Boston,  being  stationed  on 
Martha's  Vineyard,  was  invited 
here,  and  for  lack  of  a  room  suffi- 
ciently large  to  hold  the  people, 
he  held  meetings  in  the  open  air 
on  Mill  Hill,  where  all  classes,  rich 
and  poor,  white  and  black,  as- 
sembled to  hear  the  Word.  A 
very  large  number  were  converted, 
and  many  others  awakened,  but  no 
society  formed.  Rev.  George  Pick- 
ering was  Presiding  Elder,  and 
was  requested  to  send  them  a 
preacher,  and  Rev.  William  Beau- 
champ  was  accordingly  sent, 
and  proved  a  very  judicious 

appointment.  On  the  24th  of  July,  1798,  he  formed  the  first  society 
of  Methodists  on  the  island  of  Nantucket,  in  an  upper  back  room 
in  Pearl  Street.  This  society  con- 
sisted of  nineteen  persons.  January 
i,  1800,  the  pastor  dedicated  the  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Nan- 
tucket,  on  Fair  Street,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  year  reported  sixty-five  mem- 
bers in  the  society.  The  salary  of 
the  minister  was  fixed  at  $80  a  year, 
and  four  families  assumed  the  re- 
sponsibility of  boarding  him.  In 
June,  1801,  Rev.  Joseph  Wells  was 
appointed  to  succeed  Rev.  Mr. 
Beauchamp,  and  in  1803,  Rev.  Joshua 
Soule  succeeded  him. 

Here    is    a    break    in    the    history 
r.ntil    June    2Oth,     1812,    when    Rev.         NANTUCKET  PARSONAGE. 


THE    NANTUCKET    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Elijah  Heckling  was  appointed  pastor.  These  last  two  were  afterward 
Bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  June,  1820,  the 
New  England  Conference  held  its  first  session  in  Nantucket,  Bishop 
George  presiding,  and  the  preachers  then  numbered  about  100.  In 
1823  Rev.  Isaac  Bonney  was  stationed  here,  and  the  congregation  hav- 
ing outgrown  Fair  Street  Church  the  Centre  Street  Church  was  built 
at  a  cost  of  $14,000,  and  seating  1,000  people,  and  was  dedicated  Sep- 
tember 20,  1823,  by  Rev.  John  Newland  Maffit,  who  served  as  paster 
for  the  balance  of  the  year,  during  which  time  a  gracious  revival  took 


REV.    O.    M.    MARTIN. 


MRS.    O.    M.    MARTIN. 


place  which  increased  the  membership  150.  In  June,  1837,  the  New 
England  Conference  for  the  second  time  held  its  session  here,  when 
the  number  of  preachers  had  increased  to  172.  Bishop  Hedding  pre- 
sided at -this  session,  and  Rev.  John  Lord  was  stationed  here,  who 
having  gotten  under  a  cloud  was  suspended  for  a  year,  and  Rev.  John 
Thompson  Burrill  was  appointed  his  successor;  but  Mr.  Lord,  feeling 
pugnacious,  drew  off  some  of  the  best  of  the  membership  and  organ- 
ized the  Summer  Street  Baptist  Church.  At  the  next  session  of  the 
Conference  he  was  expelled  from  the  Methodist  church,  but  the  effects 
of  his  disloyalty  are  still  felt.  In  1838  Rev.  J.  T.  Burrill  was  re-ap- 
pointed, and  in  1839  RCV-  Stephen  Lovell  was  the  pastor.  In  1840 
Rev.  Ezekiel  W.  Stickney  was  appointed  pastor,  and  in  1841  the  New 
England  Conference  was  divided  and  the  Providence  Conference 
formed,  and  held  its  session  in  Nantucket,  when  Rev.  Daniel  Fillmore 
was  made  pastor,  and  during  the  year  one  of  the  most  extensive  revivals 
of  religion  occurred  that  the  island  has  ever  witnessed,  swelling  the 
membership  to  621.  Mr.  Fillmore  was  re-appointed  in  1842,  and  in 
1843  and  J844  Rev.  David  Patten,  Jr.,  was  the  pastor,  and  was  sue- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


ceeded  in  1845  and  1846  by  Rev.  Daniel  Wise.  In  1846  the  great 
fire  occurred  that  destroyed  $2,000,000  worth  of  property,  burning  all 
around  the  Centre  Street  Church,  leaving  it  a  monument  of  God's 
goodness  to  his  people.  Still,  a  goodly  number  of  the  members  of 
the  church  lost  their  all  of  worldly  possessions,  leaving  the  church 
financially  crippled. 


MRS.    M.    F.    COFFIN, 
Sunday    School    Superintendent. 


MARY   H.    BORDEN, 
Epworth   League   President. 


PASTORS. 

1837.  John  Lord  1867. 

1837-38.  J.  T.'  Burrill  1868-70. 

1839.  Stephen  Lovell  1871-72. 

1840.  E.  W.  Stickney  1873. 
1841-42.  Dan'l  Fillmore  1874. 
1843-44.  David  Patten  1875-76. 
1845-46.  Daniel  Wise  1877. 

1847.  E.  B.  Bradford  1878-79. 

1848.  John  Lovejoy  1880. 

1849.  William  Livesey  1881-82. 
1850-51.  J.  B.  Husted  1883-85. 
1852-53.  Micah  J.  Talbot,  Jr.          1885. 

1854.  "  N.  P.  Philbrook  1886-87. 

1855.  John  Cooper  1888-89. 

1856.  E.  H.  Hatfield  1890. 

1857.  S.  W.  Coggeshall  1891. 
I858-59-  M-  P-  Alderman  1891. 
1860.  James  A.  Dean  1892. 
1861-62.  Asa  N.  Bodfish  1893-94. 
1863-64.  W.  H.  Stetson  1894-95. 
1865-66.  C.  S.  Macreading,  Jr.       1895— 


William  H.  Jones 
William  H.  Starr 
G.  A.  Morse 

B.  K.  Bosworth 
S.  E.  Evans 

C.  N.  Hinckley 

C.  E.  Walker' 
Richard  Burn 
A.  L.  Dearing 
Merrick  Ransom 
Frank  Bowler 
A.  M.  Osgood 
George  E.  Brightman 
S.  M.  Beale 
Angelo  Canoll 

J.  L.  Hill 
R.  J.  Floody 
J.  N.  Geisler 
R.  J.  Kellogg 

D.  C.  Ridgway 
O.  M.  Martin  ' 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  117 

There  was  a  time  when  Methodism  in  Nantucket  had  more  than 
600  communicants,  but  that  was  in  the  palmy  days  of  whaling,  and 
Nantucket  was  considered  among  the  best  appointments  of  the  Con- 
ference, but  the  whaling  interests  collapsed,  and  it  has  since  made  but 
little  progress,  and  the  membership  has  been  reduced  to  about  one- 
sixth  of  the  former  number.  The  place,  however,  is  fast  rising  into 
prominence  as  a  summer  resort,  and  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  it,  as  the 
Gulf  Stream  comes  up  very  near,  thus  making  the  winters  mild  and 
enjoyable,  and  the  summer  never  lacks  a  cool,  refreshing  breeze,  thus 
avoiding  both  extremes. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — E.  B.  Dunham,  Asa  C.  Jones,  Walter  Coffin,  Leon 
Royal,  Albert  Chadwick,  O.  A.  B.  Tracy,  George  Brown,  Mary  F. 
Coffin,  Mary  H.  Nye. 

Stewards — Leon  Royal,  Albert  Chadwick,  Walter  Coffin,  B.  R. 
Burdette,  E.  B.  Dunham,  Mary  H.  Nye,  Christine  Dunham,  Mary  F. 
Coffin,  Lydia  Brokaw,  Ellen  Tracy,  Lydia  Beebe,  Lydia  Allen,  Erne- 
line  Coffin. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mary  F.  Coffin;  Assistant,  O.  M. 
Martin;  Secretary,  Lizzie  Chase;  Treasurer,  Lizzie  Pinkham;  Libra- 
rian, Mabel  Winslow. 

Teachers — O.  M.  Martin,  Mrs.  O.  M.  Martin,  Mary  H.  Nye,  Flor- 
ence Swain,  Sarah  L.  Swain,  Emeline  Coffin,  Carrie  Brown,  Eunice 
Robinson,  Jennie  Robinson,  Ella  Norcross,  Carrie  Norcross. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  Mary  Borden;  First  Vice-President, 
Susie  Austin;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  O.  M.  Martin;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Anna  Marden;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Sarah  L  Swain; 
Secretary,  Walter  Coffin;  Treasurer,  O.  Clinton  Hussey. 


THE   METHODIST  SOCIAL   UNION   OF   NEW    BEDFORD 

AND  VICINITY. 
By  Fred  L.  Thompson. 

On  the  6th  day  of  January,  1890,  there  were  assembled  at  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  rooms  in  New  Bedford,  a  committee  consisting  of  the 
pastor  and  two  lay  delegates  from  each  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
churches  located  in  New  Bedford,  Fairhaven  and  Acushnet,  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  organizing  a  social  society,  having  as  its 
object  the  promotion  of  sociability  and  fraternity  among  the  members 
of  the  various  churches.  They  accordingly  organized  the  Methodist 
Social  Union  of  New  Bedford  and  Vicinity.  After  adopting  a  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  R.  F.  Raymond,  Esq.,  was  elected  president. 

The  first  public  meeting  was  held  on 
Monday  evening,  February  3,  1890,  at 
the  County  Street  Church,  as  this  was 
the  mother  church  of  Methodism  in 
this  city.  There  were  101  charter 
members  enrolled  at  this  meeting. 

The  first  lecture  was  delivered 
March  17,  1890,  by  Rev.  B.  P.  Ray- 
mond, president  of  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity; subject:  "Education."  The  next 
was  by  Dr.  Charles  Parkhurst  of  Bos- 
ton on  "The  Race  Problem  in  the 
South."  R.  F.  Raymond  was  re- 
elected  president  for  the  year  1890-91. 
On  Nov.  15,  Bishop  Wm.  Taylor  of 
Africa  addressed  the  Union  on  his 
work  in  "The  Dark  Continent." 

During  the  year  lectures  were  delivered  by  Rev.  C.  H.  Mann, 
Prof.  O.  A.  Curtis,  D.  D.,  Prof.  S.  F.  Upham,  D.  D.,  who  spoke  on 
"John  Wesley,  the  Founder  of  Methodism,"  at  the  centennial  occasion 
of  his  death,  and  Prof.  C.  T.  Winchester. 

R.  F.  Raymond,  Esq.,  was  re-elected  president  for  the  year  1891- 
'92.  On  October  7  Dr.  Brodbeck  opened  a  course  of  revival  services 
by  a  sermon  in  County  Street  Church.  Lectures  during  the  year  were 
by  Prof.  Daniel  Dorchester,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  subject:  "An  Evening 
With  the  Poets."  Dr.  J.  M.  King,  subject:  "The  School  Question." 
Dr.  George  E.  Strobridge  of  New  York,  subject:  "The  Value  of  a 
Great  Man";  and  Prof.  C.  T.  Winchester,  subject:  "An  Old  Castle." 

R.  F.  Raymond,  Esq.,  was  again  re-elected  president  for  the  year 
1892-93.  The  only  lecture  recorded  for  the  year  was  delivered  by 


p.  L.  THOMPSON. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


119 


James    Clement    Ambrose    of   Evanston,   111.,   subject:    "The    Sham 
Family." 

Mr.  George  M.  Eddy  was  elected  president  for  the  year  1893-94. 
Lectures  during  the  year  were  as  follows:  Rev.  W.  H.  Milburn,  D.  D., 
subject:  "Aaron  Burr";  Rev.  William  V.  Kelley,  D.  D.,  on  "Robert 
Browning";  Prof.  Daniel  Dorchester,  Jr.,  of  Boston  University,  lec- 
tured on  "Some  Old  Stories";  Rev.  George  L.  Taylor  of  Georgetown, 
Conn.,  subject  "Woodpeckers:  Critics  and  Criticisms."  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Bottome,  President  of  the  King's  Daughters,  spoke  upon  "What 
I  owe  to  Methodism,"  and  Rev.  C.  C.  McCabe,  D.  D.,  delivered  his 
popular  lecture  on  "The  Bright  Side  of  Life  in  Libby  Prison." 

At  the  annual  meeting  and  banquet 
held  May  21,  the  late  Leonard  B.  Ellis 
delivered  an  historical  address  on  the 
"Beginning  of  Methodism  in  New 
Bedford." 

Lewis  C.  Small  was  elected  presi- 
dent for  the  year  1894-95  at  this 
meeting.  The  lectures  for  the  year 
were  as  follows:  Rev.  William 
Burt,  D.  D..  subject:  "Modern  Italy." 
Bishop  John  H.  Vincent  gave  sug- 
gestions as  to  the  proper  train- 
ing of  the  American  youth  in  his 
"Tom  and  His  Teachers".  Rev.  R. 
E.  Schuh,  Ph.  D.,  spoke  on  "Modern 
Socialism.  On  January  17,  1895,  the 
union  celebrated  the  centenary  of 
the  first' Methodist  sermon  preached  in  New  Bedford  by  Rev.  Jesse  Lee. 
Services  were  held  the  entire  day,  consisting  of  a  sermon  by  Bishop 
E.  G.  Andrews,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  in  the  morning.  Short  addresses  in  the 
afternoon,  and  the  late  Leonard  B.  Ellis  read  in  the  evening  his  his- 
torical paper,  "The  Beginning  of  Methodism  in  New  Bedford."  This 
completed  the  exercises  of  the  celebration.  Rev.  A.  B.  Kendig,  D.  D., 
spoke  on  "Methodism  Historically  Interpreted."  Rev.  E.  M.  Taylor, 
D.  D.,  gave  a  patriotic  address  on  "Washington  as  a  Nation  Builder," 
and  Rev.  W.  W.  Ramsay,  D.  D.,  spoke  on  "Sky  Wonders,"  which 
completed  the  lecture  course  for  the  year. 

Lot  B.  Bates  was  elected  president  for  the  year  1895-96.  The 
course  for  the  year  was  as  follows :  Readings  by  Prof.  Hibbard  of  Wes- 
leyan  University;  Rev.  J.  R.  Day,  D.  D.,  Syracuse  University;  sub- 
ject: "A  Mile  a  Minute";  Rev.  J.  D.  Pickles,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  subject: 
"Palestine  and  Egypt";  Rev.  A.  J.  Palmer,  D.  D.,  of  New  York,  de- 


R.   F.  RAYMOND. 

Ex-President  Social  Union. 


I20  SOVVENIR  HISTORY. 

livered  his  thrilling  lecture,  "Co.  D,  The  Die-No-Mores";  Rev.  J.  E. 
Price,  D.  D.,  of  New  York,  subject:  "Noiseless  Forces,"  and  Rev. 
F.  D.  Blakeslee,  D.  D.,  principal  of  East  Greenwich  academy,  deliv- 
ered a  beautifully  illustrated  lecture,  subject:  "Venice  to  Naples." 

Savory  C.  Hathaway  was  elected  president  for  the  year  1896-97. 
Lectures  for  the  year  as  follows:  Rev.  C.  M.  Melden  of  Brockton,  sub- 
ject: "A  Glimpse  of  Holland";  William  I.  Haven  of  Brookline,  gave  a 
very  instructive  talk  on  "The  Mastery  of  the  Mind";  Rev.  J.  M.  Buck- 
ley, D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  New  York,  subject:  "Washington  and  Lincoln 
Compared  and  Contrasted";  Rev.  W.  T.  Perrin  of  Boston,  subject: 
"Visions,"  and  Rev.  M.  D.  Buell  of  Boston,  on  "Skill." 

At  the  annual  meeting  and  banquet  the  following  officers  were 
elected  for  the  year  1897-98: 

President — Frederic  L.  Thompson. 

First  Vice-President — Marshall  F.  Lewis. 

Second  Vice-President — Mrs.  H.  K.  Nye. 

Recording  Secretary — Mrs.  C.  G.  Winslow. 

Corresponding  Secretary — Mrs.  H.  H.  Critchlow. 

Treasurer — David  S.  Small. 

While  only  the  more  prominent  facts  and  events  in  the  history  of 
the  union  have  been  recorded  here,  enough  perhaps  has  been  given  to 
demonstrate  that  the  Methodist  Social  Union  has  had  a  creditable 
existence,  and  that  it  has  exerted  an  uplifting  influence  in  this  com- 
munitv. 


ALLEN  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS. 

The  Allen  Street  Church  edifice  was  built  in  1842  by  Christian 
Baptists,  and  for  several  years  was  occupied  by  that  denomination. 
In  1851  it  was  purchased  by  members  of  the  Fourth  Street  Church. 

Rev.  Moses  Chase,  then  pastor  of 
that  church,  was  mainly  instrumen- 
tal in  bringing  this  about.  Twenty- 
three  members  went  out  from 
Fourth  Street  Church  and  formed 
this  church.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  Andrew  McKeown,  under 
whose  labors  the  new  enterprise 
was  greatly  strengthened.  As  the 
result  of  a  four  weeks'  protracted 
meeting,  34  souls  were  added,  and 
at  the  close  of  a  two  years'  pastor- 
ate 149  members  were  reported.  The 
good  work  went  on  under  succeed- 
ing pastors.  The  great  revival  dur- 
ing the  period  of  Dr.  Chapman's 
labors,  in  1857  (that  year  of  re- 
vivals), is  probably  the  most 
marked.  Finding  a  membership 
of  137,  he  reported  at  the 
close  of  his  second  year  220 
A  considerable  per  cent,  of  the  latter 
were  evidently  received  in  full  by  the  next  pastors;  for  the  following 
spring  268  members  were  re- 
ported', and  the  spring  follow- 
ing that  272,  a  number  which 
has  never  been  equalled  till  the 
report  of  the  last  Conference 
(1897),  when,  at  the  close  of 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  S. 
Davis,  the  membership  num- 
bered 280,  besides  20  proba- 
tioners. It  may  here  be  said 
that  numerically  the  member- 
ship has  varied  from  about  150 
to  200  during  almost  the  entire 
history,  seldom  rising  above 
the  latter,  or  falling  below  the  former. 

Faithful  men  in  the  ministry  and  laity  labored  in  those  early  days. 


ALLEN    STREET   CHURCH. 


members  and  114  probationers. 


ALLEN  STREET  PARSONAGE. 


122 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


in  heaven  alone  is  their  complete  record.  A  quotation  from  a  writer 
of  about  thirty  years  since  may  express  the  transformation  wrought 
in  this  neighborhood:  "In  the  vicinity  of  this  church,  and  completely 
surrounding  it,  were  many  dens  of  vice  and  infamy.  *  *  *  Purity 
has  taken  the  place  of  depravity  in  its  most  hideous  and  revolting 
manifestations,  and  the  hymns  of  Zion  are  heard  and  sung  on  the  very 
spot  where  the  ribald  jest  and  licentious  song  were  wont  to  be  heard 
and  sung." 

In  the  spring  of  1885  the  Pleasant  Street  and  Allen  Street  churches 


REV.  J.  N.  PATTERSON. 


MRS.  J.  N.  PATTERSON. 


were  united  under  one  Quarterly  Conference,  with  Rev.  A.  E.  Drew 
as  pastor.  This  arrangement  had  become  necessary  on  account  of 
the  almost  prostrate  condition  into  which  the  Allen  Street  Church 
had  fallen,  owing  to  a  series  of  unfortunate  circumstances.  Besides 
being  burdened  with  debt,  the  church  had  dwindled  to  a  membership 
of  126,  although  two  years  before  it  had  reported  185.  This  was  due 
in  part,  however,  to  a  conscientious  revision  of  the  records  by  the  Rev. 
J.  B.  Hingeley,  by  which  the  books  were  disburdened  of  persons  who 
no  longer  had  an  interest  here,  or  who  had  removed.  Great  credit 
is  due  to  Brother  Drew  for  the  very  timely  and  efficient  aid  which  he 
now  rendered  to  this  disheartened  people.  At  the  end  of  a  year  he 
left  them  clear  of  debt,  and  in  possession  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
money  with  which  the  present  parsonage  was  built.  It  was,  however, 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Edward  Williams  that  the  actual  building 
was  done.  -The  union  with  Pleasant  Street  Church  having  served  its 
purpose,  terminated  at  the  end  of  one  year,  and  with  the  pastorate 
of  Brother  Williams  the  church  entered  a  period  of  prosperity  which 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


123 


has  continued  till  the  present.  Of  the  splendid  success  of  the  three 
pastorates  of  Revs.  E.  Williams,  J.  I.  Bartholomew  and  C.  S.  Davis, 
covering  a  period  of  eleven  years,  a  sufficient  proof  may  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  the  church  has,  numerically,  more  than  doubled  in  that 
time. 

Among  the  ministers  who  have  served  this  church,  some  few  have 
since  become  distinguished.  Notably,  Dr.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  whose 
thrilling  pulpit  oratory,  even  while  here,  is  yet  remembered.  Also 
Rev.  C.  S.  Nutter,  author  of  "Hymn  Studies,"  and  Dr.  B.  P.  Raymond, 
now  president  of  Wesleyan  University.  But  the  entire  following  list 
bears  a  high  average,  both  in  weight  of  Christian  character  and  in 
general  usefulness. 

PASTORS. 


1852-53- 

I854-55- 


A.  McKeown 
T.  B.  Gould 


H.    T.    BORDEN. 
Recording  Steward. 


1856-57.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman 

1858.  Henry  Baylies 

l&59-  J°nn  Howson 

1 860-6 1.  P.  T.  Kinney 

1862-63.  John  Livesey 

1864-65.  Wm.  Kellen 

1866-67.  F.  J.  Wagner 

1868.  E.  A.  Lyon 

1869.  Thomas  Ely 
1869-70.  F.  Ryder 
1871-72.  J.  M.  Durrell 
1873.  v-  W.  Mattoon 
1874-76.  B.  P.  Raymond 
1877.  J.  H.  Humphrey 
1878-80.  C.  S.  Nutter 
1881-82.  G.  W.  Wright 
1883-84.  J.  B.  Hingeley 
i88q.  A.  E.  Drew 
1886-88.  E.  Williams 
1889-92.  J.  I.  Bartholomew 
1893-96.  C.  S.  Davis 

J.  N.  Patterson 


1897— 

A  long  list  of  honorable  and  faithful  men  and  women  of  the  laity 
have  labored  here,  not  the  least  important  of  whom  have  been  the 
Sunday  School  superintendents  and  workers  in  the  large  and  flour- 
ishing school,  which  has  always  been  a  part  of  this  field.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  full  list  of  Sunday  School  superintendents  from  1851  till  1897: 
William  R.  Pittman,  Henry  H.  Tillson,  F.  A.  Chase,  J.  C.  Brock, 
George  B.  VVilber,  S.  H.  Briggs,  Ira  Y.  Allen,  W.  D.  Wilkinson,  O. 
S.  Simpson,  T.  I.  Lewis,  Lewis  Pendleberry,  R.  F.  Raymond,  G.  H. 
Briggs,  E.  P.  Carter. 

Trustees— G.  H.  Briggs,  C.  A.  Tuell,  C.  R.  Sherman,  E.  P.  Carter, 
F.  P.  Moody,  J.  F.  Tripp,  I.  D.  Wilkinson,  O.  S.  Simpson. 


124 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Stewards— C.  A.  Tuell,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Tuell,  G.  H.  Briggs,  Mrs. 
Annie  M.  Briggs,  H.  T.  Borden  (R.  S.  and  D.  S.),  Edward  Winter- 
bottom,  Amos  Gee,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Macreading,  F.  L.  Thompson,  B. 
Crocker,  Charles  Jenney,  H.  F.  Hoxie. 


E.  P.   CARTER. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


GEORGE  H.  BRIGGS. 
Epworth    League  President. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL.— SENIOR  GRADE. 

Officers — Superintendent,  Mr.  E.  P.  Carter;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Mr.  Robert  L.  Cook;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mr.  Amos 
Gee;  Librarian,  Mr.  Rossa  Moriarity;  Pianist,  Miss  H.  Ashley. 

Teachers — H.  F.  Hoxie,  J.  N.  Patterson,  Mrs.  Mary  Tripp,  Miss 
Bessie  Grieves,  George  H.  Briggs,  Miss  E.  Kasmire,  B.  F.  Crocker, 
Miss  A.  Bowie,  Miss  Bertha  Hathaway,  Mrs.  E.  F.  Hoxie,  Miss  Jessie 
Grieves,  Miss  Lizzie  Frost,  Miss  Hattie  Frost,  David  Burgess,  Miss 
Hattie  Ashley,  Miss  Edith  Frank,  Mrs.  George  H.  Briggs,  Miss  Grace 
Sherman. 

PRIMARY  GRADE. 

Officers — Superintendent,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Tuell;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Mrs.  E.  C.  Schofield. 

Teachers — Mr.  O.  S.  Simpson,  Mr.  Edgar  Wright,  Mrs.  Edgar 
Wright,  Mrs.  Amos  Gee,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Bolles,  Mrs.  Nannie  C.  Cook, 
Miss  Ada  Smith,  Miss  Emma  Winterbottom,  Miss  Carrie  Rose. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  George  H.  Briggs;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  H.  F.  Hoxie;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  E.  F.  Hoxie;  Third 
Vice-President,  Calvin  Ashley;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Edith  Frank; 
Treasurer,  Arthur  Smith;  Secretary,  Bertha  C.  Hathaway. 


SEAMEN'S  BETHEL  AND  HOME. 


SEAMEN'S  BETHEL  AND  HOME,  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS. 

The  first  meeting  to  take  into  consideration  the  expediency  oi 
forming  a  society  to  promote  the  interests  of  seamen  was  held  May  17, 
1830.  In  May,  1831,  a  house  and  lot  on  Bethel  Street  were  purchased. 
At  the  first  annual  meeting,  held  June  7,  1831,  it  was  resolved  that  the 

form  of  worship  should 
be  perfectly  unsectarian, 
and  that  all  denomina- 
tions should  have  the 
privilege  of  supplying 
the  pulpit.  Services  were 
first  conducted  in  the 
old  Town  House  every 
Sunday  morning,  each 
of  the  clergymen  in  the 
place  officiating  in  turn. 
The  first  meeting  was 
held  Sunday,  July  31, 
1831.  The  first  chap- 
lain was  the  Rev.  Enoch 
M  u  d  g  e ,  who  com- 
menced his  labors  April 
27,  1832.  The  soci- 
ety was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  General  Court  May  4th,  1832. 

The  Ladies'  Branch  was  formed  June  12,  1833.  Rev.  Mr.  Mudge 
resigned  in  July,  1844.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Moses  How.  He 
was  connected  with  the  society  for  fifteen  years.  Rev.  James  D.  But- 
ler was  the  next  chaplain.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  April  15,  1859. 
He  was  born  in  New  Bedford,  Oc- 
tober 21,  1809;  was  himself  a  mari- 
ner. In  1839  he  became  a  member 
of  the  N.  E.  M.  E.  Conference. 
He  served  until  1863.  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Fox  from  1863  to  1869.  Rev. 
B.  S.  Batchelor,  1869  to  1870.  Rev. 
James  D.  Butler  returned  in  1870 
and  served  until  his  death,  Janu- 
uary  3,  1889.  Rev.  Edward  Williams 
of  the  N.  E.  S.  Conference  was 
appointed  his  successor  in  1889,  at 
the  close  of  his  pastorate  at  Allen 
Street  Church,  New  Bedford,  and 
has  served  continuously  to  the  present 
time. 

The  duties  of  a  chaplain  embrace 
not  only  the  conducting  of  reli- 
gious worship  in  the  chapel,  but 
carry  him  down  on  the  wharves, 

among  the  seamen,  and  into  their  daily  lives,  where  he  must  be  ever 
watchful  for  a  chance  to  bring  some  neglected  sailor  under  the  care 
and  protection  of  the  Bethel  and  its  moral  influences.  During  the 
greater  part  of  this  time  the  Bethel  has  been  supplied  by  Methodist 
Ministers. 


REV.  EDWARD  WILLIAMS. 


CANNONVILLE  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS. 

For  a  number  of  years  a  Sunday  School  organization  of  greater 
or  less  strength  has  existed  in  the  Cannonville  Chapel.  The  vicissi- 
tudes of  fortune  through  which  this  organization  has  passed  are  too 
numerous  and  tedious  to  mention.  Therefore,  we  shall  not  trace  its 
history  from  a  more  distant  point  than  the  advent  of  Brother  Charles 
H.  Brownell  as  superintendent  in  1887.  From  that  time  on,  progress 
has  been  the  watchword.  Only  once  in  the  last  ten  years  have  the 
prospects  darkened,  when,  in  1891,  Mr.  Brownell  was  compelled  to 


THE  CANNONVILLE  CHURCH. 


REV.  C.  H.  TAYLOR. 


resign  on  account  of  sickness.  God  kindly  provided  for  the  needs  of 
that  hour  by  raising  up  for  them  a  worthy  superintendent,  Mr.  George 
S.  Fox.  Through  his  efforts,  in  1895,  the  people  of  Cannonville  and 
Rockdale  united  in  calling  a  minister.  Rev.  C.  H.  Judkins  of  Boston 
University  was  secured.  He  remained  only  until  April,  but  in  his 
short  stay  started  a  good  work.  The  Conference  of  1896  sent  Brother 
Jerome  Greer  to  this  charge.  During  his  year's  ministration  much  was 
done  to  put  the  work  on  a  more  solid  foundation.  The  Conference  of 
1897  sent  to  this  charge  Rev.  C.  Howard  Taylor,  the  present  pastor. 
No  church  organization  has  yet  been  effected,  but  the  present  pros- 
perity indicates  that  such  organization  is  near  at  hand. 


COUNTY  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS. 


(This  sketch  is  largely  a  condensation  of  a  paper  read  by  the  late 
Leonard  B.  Ellis  at  the  celebration  of  the  centennial  of  New  Bedford 
Methodism,  February  5,  1895.) 

The  first  Methodist  sermon 
in  New  Bedford  was  preached 
by  Jesse  Lee,  January  30, 1795,  in 
George  East's  tavern,  still  stand- 
ing  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Acushnet  Avenue  and  Mill 
Street.  For  ten  years  after, 
Methodist  services  were  occa- 
sionally held  in  school  houses 
and  dwellings.  Among  the 
preachers  were  Joshua  Hill, 
Joseph  Snelling  and  Daniel 
Webb.  After  the  founding  of 
the  society  at  Head-of-the- 
River,  in  1807,  now  known  as 
the  Acushnet  Church,  preaching 
services  and  class  meetings  were 
held  under  its  direction  in  Fair- 
haven  and  New  Bedford,  in 
the  latter  place  in  the  homes 
of  Phebe  Stowell,  Susannah 
In  April,  1817,  a  class  was  reg- 
It  consisted  of  the 


COUNTY  STREET  CHURCH. 


Maxfield  and  Captain  John  Hawes. 
ularly  organized  to  meet  at  Susannah  Maxfield's. 
following  sixteen  members:  John  Hawes,  leader;  Mary  Hawes,  Joseph 
Stowell,  Phebe  Stowell,  Susannah  Maxfield,  Phineas  Kinney,  Achsah 
Kinney,  Mehitable  Bennett,  James  Blur,  Thurston  Chapman,  Esther 
Chapman,  Zaccheus  Chap- 
man, Amy  Perkins,  Benjamin 
Keith,  Sarah  Adams  and  Tim- 
othy I.  Dyer. 

In  1819,  a  hall  was  rented 
in  the  second  story  of  a  build- 
ing on  the  corner  of  Second 
and  Mill  Streets,  and  Benja- 
min L.  Sayer  preached  with- 
out compensation  till  Confer- 
ence, when  Rev.  Jesse  Fill- 
more  was  appointed  first  pas- 
tor. When  because  of  the 
coming  of  the  Presiding  AUDITORIUM  VIETV 


128  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Elder,  or  for  other  reasons,  the 
hall  was  not  large  enough,  the 
Middle  Street  Christian 
Church  was  freely  placed  at 
the  service  of  the  infant  so- 
ciety. The  following  were 
present  at  the  first  Quarterly 
Conference,  November  23,. 
1820:  Rev.  George  Picker- 
ing, Presiding  Elder;  Rev. 
Jesse  Fillmore,  pastor;  Zac- 
VESTRY  VIEW  cheus  Cushman,  Timothy  L 

Dyer,     Phineas     Kinney    and 

Jonathan  Tuttle.     The  last-named  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School,  organized  in  1841. 

In  June,  1821,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Elm  Street  and  Acush- 
net  Avenue,  the  first  church  was  erected,  45x50  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200. 
In  the  attic  was  an  "upper  room"  for  prayer  and  class  meetings,  where 
Pentecostal  blessings  were  often  received.  This  structure  was  enlarged 
and  a  chapel  added  in  1840.  A  serious  contention  was  settled  in  favor 
of  pew  doors,  and  another  by  a  compromise  providing  that  half  of  the 
pews  should  be  free  and  half  rented.  The  pastor  opposed  free  seats. 
Rev.  Solomon  Sias  took  charge  in  1822  and  calmed  the  factions.  John 
Newland  Maffitt  held  revival  meetings  during  this  pastorate.  Disci- 
pline was  rigidly  maintained  in  the  early  Methodist  fashion.  The 
sisters  wore  Quaker  bonnets  and  did  not  don  black  for  mourning. 
There  was  a  committee  to  advise  members  on  business  matters,  and 
some  were  suspended  for  non-attendance  at  class  meeting.  Special 
services  were  held  in  outlying  villages.  The  first  annual  report,  in 
1821,  showed  expenses  of  $222.68,  with  five  cents  in  the  treasury.  A 
singing  school  was  started  in  1830,  and  a  bass  viol  introduced  in 
1837.  Colored  people,  twenty- four  of  whom  at  one  time  were  mem- 
bers, sat  in  the  northeast  gallery  and  partook  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
last,  by  themselves.  Because  of  this  distinction,  .Frederick  Douglass, 
soon  after  arriving  in  New  Bedford,  abandoned  his  determination  to 
join  Elm  Street  Church.  The  colored  people  had  Timothy  Dyer  for 
class  leader,  who  also  taught  them  to  read  and  write.  In  1835  an 
anti-slavery  lecture  was  given  in  the  church.  In  1840  anti-slavery 
prayer  meetings  were  held.  Such  were  the  beginnings  of  New  Bed- 
ford Methodism  in  the  Elm  Street  Church,  from  which  were  colonized 
Fourth  Street  in  1831,  and  Pleasant  Street  in  1843. 

In  1858  the  Elm  Street  Society  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
imposing  edifice  on  the  corner  of  County  and  Elm  Streets,  now  known 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


129 


as  the  County  Street  Church,  which  was  dedicated  May  5,  1859.  This 
is  of  brick,  of  handsome  design,  65x100  feet,  and  cost  nearly  $50,000,. 
at  a  time  when  labor  and  materials  were  very  low.  A  considerable 
portion  of  the  funds  was  advanced  by  a  Building  Association  formed 
for  the  purpose  by  the  following  official  members  of  the  church :  Ben- 
jamin Pitman,  Edmund  Anthony,  George  G.Gifford,  Ambrose  Vincent,. 
William  Hammond,  Caleb  L.  Ellis,  George  W.  Howland,  Benjamin 
C.  Ward,  Thomas  West,  Perez  Jenkins,  Alanson  Gammons  and  Shipley 
W.  Bumpus,  some  of  whom  made  great  sacrifices  to  forward  the  enter- 
prise. Rev.  Mark  Trafton,  D.  D.,  was  the  pastor  when  the  society 


REV.   J.  F.  COOPER. 


MRS.   J.    F.    COOPER. 


removed  to  its  new  home,  and  it  at  once  took  a  commanding  position 
in  the  social  and  religious  life  of  the  city.  By  the  arduous  labors  of 
Rev.  D.  P.  Leavitt,  pastor  in  1868-71,  and  further  sacrifices  on  the 
part  of  the  people,  all  remaining  indebtedness  was  cleared  off  and  the 
property  formally  transferred  to  the  trustees.  There  is  also  a  parson- 
age fund,  the  gift  of  the  late  George  W.  Howland. 

The  location  has  proved  excellent,  and  with  the  present  growth 
of  the  city,  the  church  is  making  notable  gains  in  membership.  Death 
has  removed  many  of  its  venerable  figures,  but  the  society  is  assum- 
ing more  of  a  popular  character,  while  some  of  the  leading  business 
and  professional  men  of  the  city  are  counted  among  its  members  and 
attendants.  Its  usefulness  seems  assured,  with  the  favor  of  God,  for 
many  years.  Its  organization  for  charitable  and  social  work  is  excel- 
lent. Its  list  of  pastors  includes  Upham,  Wise,  Trafton,  McChesney, 
Kimball,  Townsend,  Crafts,  Canoll,  Benton  and  other  notable  names. 

Rev.  C.  W.  Holden,  after  a  successful  five  years'  pastorate  with 


130 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


this  church,  married  one  of  its  most  popular  young  women,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Eddy,  daughter  of  Hon.  George  M.  Eddy. 


1820-21.  Jesse  Fillmore 

1822-23.  Solomon  Sias 

1824.  Ephraim  Kirby 

1825.  Frederick  Upham 
1826-27.  Jacob  Sanborn 


1828. 

1829-30. 

1831-32. 

1833- 

1834-35- 


REV.  A.  WOODARD. 
Local   Preacher. 

Asa  Kent 

Timothy  Merritt 
Daniel  Webb 
Daniel  Fillmore 
Thomas  C.  Pierce 


PASTORS. 

1836-37. 

1838-39. 

1840-41. 

1842-43. 

1844. 

1845-46 

1847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851-52- 

1853- 

I854-55- 

1856. 

1857-58- 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865-67. 

1868-70. 

1871-73. 

1874. 

1875-76. 

1877-78. 

1879-80. 

1881. 

1882-84. 

1885-87. 

1888-89. 

1890-94. 

1895— 


Shipley  W.  Wilson 
Isaac  Bonney 
Joel  Knight 
John  Lovejoy 
Azariah  B.  Wheeler 
David  Patten,  Jr. 
James  D.  Butler 
Robert  M.  Hatfield 
Daniel  Wise 
E.  T.  Fletcher 
William  T.  Harlow 
John  Cooper 
Henry  S.  White 
Mark  Trafton 
William  S.  Studley 
Mark  Trafton 
R.  W.  Humphriss 
Dudley  P.  Leavitt 
Ensign  McChesney 
Luther  T.  Townsend 
Wilbur  F.  Crafts 
William  F.  Whitcher 
Watson  L.  Phillips 
Edward  D.  Towle 
Henry  D.  Kimball 
S.  Olin  Benton 
Angelo  Canoll 
C.  W.  Holden 
J.  F.  Cooper 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — James  Taylor,  Pres. ;  George  S.  Perry,  Sec'y. ;  Benjamin 
Anthony,  Treas. ;  George  M.  Eddy,  Savory  C.  Hathaway,  Mark  T. 
Vincent,  Adoniram  J.  Rice,  Joseph  B.  Wade,  William  T.  Laughlin. 

Stewards — Savory  C.  Hathaway  (Pres.),  George  M.  Eddy  (R.  S. 
and  Treas.),  James  Taylor  (D.  S.),  Francis  A.  Butts,  Jr.,  Joseph  B. 
Wade,  Robert  G.  Bennett,  Arthur  L.  Blackmer,  Francis  N.  Howes, 
William  T.  Laughlin,  Robert  Burgess,  Robert  F.  Raymond,  M.  F. 
Lewis,  H.  G.  Bassett. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  W.  Burgess;  Assistant 
Superintendents,  Mrs.  Joseph  R.  Slocum,  Mrs.  Marshall  F.  Lewis, 
Clara  S.  Vincent;  Secretary,  Lillias  M.  Bennett;  Assistant,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Cooper;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  T.  Hardwick;  Assistant,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Cog- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  13! 

geshall;  Librarian,  Edwin  Chopson;  Assistants,  C.  F.  Corson,  G.  W. 
Merrow,  J.  E.  Balloch,  Bessie  P.  Peirce,  Mary  B.  Hathaway,  Annie 
R.  Forrest. 

Epworth  League — President,  Francis  N.  Howes;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, James  E.  Balloch;  Second  Vice-President,  Edith  May  Weaver; 
Third  Vice-President,  Alice  G.  Anthony;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Ida 
M.  Lewis;  Secretary,  M.  Annie  Wilde;  Treasurer,  Simeon  E.  Leavitt; 
Superintendent  Junior  League,  Mrs.  Francis  K.  Allen. 


FOURTH  STREET  CHURCH,  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS. 

This  was  the  first  Methodist  Society  to  be  formed  of  members  who 
withdrew  from  the  old  Elm  Street  Church,  the  original  home  of  Meth- 
odism in  this  city.  In  1831  a  chapel  was  erected  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  Fourth  Street  people,  which  was  formally  dedicated  Febru- 
ary 4,  1832.  During  the  years  1831  and  '32  Rev.  Asa  Kent  served  this 

new  charge  as  pastor.  At 
the  Conference  of  1832 
Revs.  A.  D.  Sargent  and 
Daniel  Webb  were  ap- 
pointed to  serve  conjoint- 
ly both  Elm  Street  and 
Fourth  Street  charges. 

The  separation  which 
took  place  in  1843  was  e^~ 
fected  by  mutual  consent, 
and  Fourth  Street  became 
thenceforward  a  distinct 
church,  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Rev.  A.  U.  Swiner- 
ton,  who  remained  with  it 
two  years.  Although  the 
church  contracted  a  debt 
of  $6,000  during  Mr. 
Swinerton's  pastorate,  its 
spiritual  life  had  been 
most  successful,  and  when 

he  left  76  new  names  had  been  added  to  the  membership. 
A  remarkable  pastorate  was  that  of  Rev.  Moses  Chace,  which  began 
in  1850.  In  November,  1851,  he,  with  six  others,  purchased  what  is 
now  the  Allen  Street  M.  E.  Church,  and  a  new  society  with  members 
of  the  Fourth  Street  Church,  was  formed.  This  was  considered  an 


FOURTH  STREET  CHURCH. 


132 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


unwise  step  by  some,  as  the  gradual  exodus  of  members  who  lived 
nearer  the  Allen  Street  Church,  reduced  the  membership  of  the  Fourth 
Street  Church  very  materially,  so  that  in  1852  Fourth  Street  had  only 


REV.    W.    E.    KUGLER. 


MRS.  W.  E.   KUGLER. 


191  members  and  18  probationers,  and  in  1856,  the  membership  was 
•still  further  reduced  to  176  and  7  probationers.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham  in  1860,  however,  the  membership  again  in- 


JESSE  LAW. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


A.   H.  BURT. 
Epworth    League  President. 


creased,  and  through  his  labors  the  church  was  enlarged  and  remod- 
eled to  its  present  proportions,  at  a  cost  of  $6,300. 

This  practically  new  structure  was  opened  and  re-dedicated  in 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


133 


Pebruary,  1861,  the  Rev.  L.  D.  Barrows  delivering  the  dedicatory  dis- 
course. Another  important  epoch  in  the  history  of  Fourth  Street 
Church  occurred  in  1866,  the  centennial  anniversary  of  Methodism  in 

America.  This  centennial  year  was 
observed  and  commemorated  by  the 
Fourth  Street  people  by  an  offering 
of  $2,400  to  free  their  church  from 
debt,  incurred  when  the  improve- 
ments were  made.  Again,  in  1881, 
during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  A.  Mc- 
Cord,  an  additional  $2,300  were 
raised,  and  the  church  property 
was  thoroughly  repaired  and  re- 
painted. But  little  of  special  or 
general  interest  has  occurred  in 
connection  with  the  subsequent  his- 
tory of  this  church.  Like  most 
other  churches,  she  has  had  her  ups 
and  downs.  But  at  the  date  of 
this  publication  she  is  up,  and  con- 
tinues to  do  a  blessed  work  in  this 

city.  The  people  of  this  church  are  very  loyal,  and  it  yet  possesses 
many  faithful  workers.  Special  mention  ought  to  be  made  of  the 
noble  self-sacrificing  band  of  women  who  have  ever  been  an  important 
influence  in  the  life  and  work  of  this  society. 

Special  mention  ought  also  to  be  made  of  Rev.  B.   F.  Simon's 
pastorate.     He  came  to  this  church  under  most  discouraging  circum- 
stances; but  through  his  influence  the  people  were  rallied  and  inspired, 
-and  after  five  years'  pastorate — the  longest  in  its  history — he  left  the 
church  much  stronger  and  more  prosperous  than  he  found  it. 

PASTORS. 


L.  B.  BATES. 
President  Board  of  Trustees. 


1831-32.  Asa  Kent  1846. 

1832.  A.  D.  Sargent  1847-48. 

1832.  Daniel  Webb  *    1849. 

1 833-34-  A.  U.  Swinerton  1850-51. 

1835.  Sanford  Benton  1852. 

1 836-37.  Phineas  Crandall  1853-54. 

1838.  Warren  Emerson  J^SS'S^. 

1839.  Daniel  Webb  1857. 

1840.  W.  S.  Campbell  1858-59. 

1841.  George  F.  Pool  1 860-61. 
1842-43.  A.  U.  Swinerton  1862. 

1844.  Isaac  House  1863-64. 

1845.  Daniel  Webb  (supplied)  1865. 


Paul  Townsend 

Daniel  Fillmore 

W.  A.  Richards 

Moses  Chase 

Richard  Livesey 

James  Mather 

George  M.  Carpenter 

Henry  Baylies 

J.  T.  Benton 

S.  F.  Upham 

N.  Bemis 

E.  H.  Hatfield 

Joseph  Marsh  (supplied) 


134 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1866.  Wm.  H.  Jones  1878-81.  Asa  N.  Bodfish 

1867-68.  E.  S.  Stanley  1881-84.  A.  McCord 

1869-70.  Samuel  A.  Winsor  1884-86.  H.  B.  Cady 

1871-72.  Frederic   Upham  1887-89.  A.  P.  Palmer 

1873.  Charles  Ryder  1890-91.  W.  H.  Allen 

1873-75.  Charles  Morgan  1892-96.  B.  F.  Simon 

1875-77.  R.  W.  C.  Farnsworth  1897—  W.  E.  Kugler 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Lot  B.  Bates,  Horace  Tilden,  C.  H.  Gifford,  George 
A.  Poole,  G.  G.  Stiles. 

Stewards— Lot  B.  Bates  (R.  S.),  James  H.  Russell  (D.  S.),  C.  H. 
Gifford,  Jesse  Law,  A.  W.  Bosworth,  Arthur  H.  Chase,  Arthur  Pat- 
terson, Mrs.  Lydia  Tilden,  Mrs.  C.  G.  Winslow,  Mrs.  Mary  G.  Bright- 
man,  Mrs.  Jane  L.  Poole,  Horace  Tilden. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Jesse  Law. 

Epworth  League — President,  A.  H.  Burt;  First  Vice-President, 
Miss  Annie  L.  Hinckley;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Gifford; 
Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Caroline  N.  Tilden;  Fourth  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss  Emily  B.  Johnson;  Secretary,  Miss  Agnes  B.  Nixon;  Treas- 
urer, Mrs.  A.  M.  Church. 


PLEASANT  STREET  M.E.  CHURCH,  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS. 

^c         j|c         ^c 

In  the  year  1844  the  Methodists  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city 
thought  there  ought  to  be  a  church  in  their  section.  Accordingly  a 
detachment  of  members  from  the  old  Elm  Street  Church  organized 


PLEASANT  STREET  CHURCH. 


PLEASANT  STREET   CHURCH. 
(As   it  appears  to-day.) 


Pleasant  Street  Church.  Rev.  John  Livesey  was  the  first  pastor. 
During  his  pastorate  the  church  grew  and  prospered  greatly. 

Samuel  C.  Brown,  the  third  pastor,  remained  but  three  months 
on  account  of  ill  health. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Cady  (i849-'5o)  the  pres- 
ent church  was  built.  It  was  dedicated  in  July,  1849.  The  sermon 
of  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  C.  K.  True  of  Boston. 

The  pastorate  of  E.  B.  Bradford. (1855)  was  a  great  revival  year. 
Many  were  added  to  the  church. 

The  great  religious  awakening  of  1857  took  place  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Howson,  and  many  were  added  to  the  church. 

Next  followed  the  happy  pastorate  of  the  "sunny-tempered  and 
sweet-spirited"  Charles  Nason  (1858). 

Rev.  William  McDonald  followed.  His  pastorate  was  also  a  very 
successful  one. 

In  1866  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates  (now  of  the  New  England  Conference) 
was  one  of  the  most  successful  pastors  in  the  history  of  the  church. 


136 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


On  watch  night,  1866,  divine  services  were  begun  which  were  con- 
tinued for  105  nights,  resulting  in  500  conversions — several  of  whom 
joined  other  churches;  but  415  joined  Pleasant  Street  Church.  This 


GROUP  OF  LADIES  AID  SOCIETY. 


blessed  revival  lifted  this  church  to  first  rank  in  the  Conference.     The 
Sunday  school  numbered  1,000  at  that  time,  and  seven  nationalities 


B.  FRANK  PENNEY. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


ROBERT  WATERSON. 
Epworth    League  President. 


were  represented.     $9,000  was  also  raised  and  spent  on  repairs  during 
this  pastorate. 


SOU V EN 1 R  HISTORY. 


Rev.  Joel  E.  Hawkins  followed  Mr.  Bates.  He  found  a  great 
church  under  his  care.  His  pastorate  proved  a  successful  one  in 
continuing  the  work  begun  by  his  predecessor.  He  made  3,000  calls 

during  the  three  years.  Con- 
versions continued  all  through 
his  pastorate. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Worth  was  pas- 
tor in  1872.  This,  too,  was  a 
highly  successful  one.  The 
able  pastorate  of  A.  E.  Drew 
(1883-85)  was  blessed  many 
ways.  In  1888  Rev.  M.  S. 
Kaufman  became  pastor. 
With  his  usual  enthusiasm 
and  faithful  work  this  church 
took  on  new  life  and  hope. 
Large  revivals  blessed  each  of  his  three  years'  labors.  An  old  mort- 
gage that  had  hung  over  the  church  ever  since  it  had  been  erected,  and 
on  which  the  church  had  paid  $14,000  interest,  was  raised,  and  burned 
in  the  presence  of  a  great  congregation.  It  was  a  glorious  hour  for 
this  church. 

The  pastorates  of  Dr.  A.  Cameron,  Dr.  C.  E.  Harris,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Eben  Tirrell,  have  been  marked  by 
able  sermons.  In  pulpit  ability  no  church  in  New  Bedford  has  ex- 
celled, if  equalled  it,  during  the  past  ten  years. 

Pleasant  Street  has  long  been  famous  as  a  working  church.  Many 
able  and  faithful  laymen  have  labored  here,  and  her  prospect  for  the 
future  is  radiant  with  hope. 


PLEASANT  STREET  PARSONAGE. 


PASTORS. 

1844-45.  John   Livesey  1864-65. 

1846.  '  Samuel  Beedle  1866-68. 

1847.  S.  C.  Brown  1869-71. 
1847-48.  Charles  H.  Titus  1872-73. 
1849-50.  Jonathan  Cady  1875-77. 
1851.  Robert  Hobart  1878-80. 
1852-53.  Horace  C.  Atwater  1881-82. 

1854.  Frederick  Upham  1883-85. 

1855.  E.  B.  Bradford  1886-87. 
1856-58.  John  Howson  1888-90. 
1859-60.  Charles  Nason  1891-93. 
1861-62.  William  McDonald  1894-95. 
1863.  William  Farrington  1896 — 


N.  P.  Philbrook 
L.  B.  Bates 
Joel  E.  Hawkins 
W.  T.  Worth 
T.  R.  Greene 
J.  W.  Malcolm 
Edgar  F.  Clark 
A.  E.  Drew 
Henry  D.  Robinson 
M.  S.  Kaufman 
A.  Cameron 
C.  E.  Harris 
Eben  Tirrell 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 
PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Samuel  S.  Paine,  Seth  C.  Caldwell,  George  W.  Paine, 
James  N.  Parker,  William  Walker,  Herbert  K.  Haskins,  John  Allen, 
Stephen  Shepherd,  David  Small. 

Stewards — George  W.  Paine,  Samuel  S.  Perry,  B.  Frank  Penney, 
Frederick  Mickell,  Weston  C.  Vaughan,  Jr.,  Clara  L.  Tompkins,  Will- 
iam Hindle,  Clara  J.  Stratton,  Lewis  Small,  Arthur  D.  Swift,  Paul 
Rowland,  Eben  Hirst,  John  Allen. 

Class  Leaders — Samuel  Paine,  William  Walker,  Stephen  Shepherd, 
David  Small,  George  Paine,  Robert  Waterson,  Alma  Paine,  Joseph 
Jennison,  Edwin  Jones. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  B.  Frank  Penney ;  Assistant  Sup- 
erintendent, Eben  Hirst;  Treasurer,  Henry  W.  Swift;  Secretary,  Anna 
E.  Jennison;  Assistant  Secretary,  Helen  W.  Hawes;  Librarian,  J.  B. 
Tompkins,  Jr. 

Teachers — Edwin  Jones,  George  W.  Paine,  Mrs.  Sarah  Paine, 
Mrs.  Annie  Deane,  Mrs.  Mary  Lilly,  William  Walker,  David  S.  Small, 
Myra  Jennison,  Clara  Tompkins,  William  Hall,  Grace  Bailey,  Frederick 
A.  Mickell,  Mrs.  Isabel  McFarlin,  Mrs.  Augustus  Buchell,  William 
Hawes,  George  C.  Huddy,  Eben  Hirst,  Stephen  H.  Shepherd,  Sylvia 
Hillman,  Julia  Smith,  Mrs.  Florence  Ellis,  Mellie  Harding,  Robert 
Waterson,  Mrs.  Esther  Walker,  Charles  E.  Vaughan,  Mrs.  Charles 
E.  Vaughan,  Lillie  Jones,  Ella  T.  Bassett,  Lizzie  E.  Omey,  Mrs.  S.  S. 
Paine,  Paul  Howland,  Jr.,  Frank  Wilcox,  John  Allen,  Carrie  Ryder, 
Clara  Stratton. 

Epworth  League,  Chap.  No.  651 — President,  Robert  Waterson; 
First  Vice-President,  William  Hall,  Jr.;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Robert  Waterson;  Third  Vice-President,  John  Allen;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  J.  O.  Coffin;  Secretary,  Lena  Donneaud;  Treasurer, 
Charles  E.  Vaughan. 


FIRST  PORTUGUESE  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEW  BEDFORD. 

This  Portuguese  Mission  is  the  First  Portuguese  M.  E.  Church 
in  America.  For  several  years  a  few  converted  Portuguese,  some  of 
whom  were  members  of  the  Allen  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
had  been  thinking  of,  and  praying  for,  the  establishment  of  mission 
work  among  their  countrymen  in  this  city.  Their  earnest  Christian 
zeal  awakened  in  others  an  interest  in  their  people.  In  the  summer 
of  1889  Rev.  Walter  Ela,  Presiding  Elder,  and  Rev.  J.  I.  Bartholo- 
mew, pastor  of  Allen  Street  Church,  in  consultation  concerning  the 
needs  of  this  people,  of  whom  there  were  about  five  thousand  in  the 


REV.    A.    RIBEIRO. 


MRS.    A.    RIBEIRO. 


city,  were  convinced  that  mission  work  should  be  commenced  among 
them  as  soon  as  a  man  could  be  found  to  carry  it  on,  and  funds  could 
be  provided  to  support  it. 

Mr.  Bartholomew  was  requested  to  make  inquiries  among  the 
Portuguese  for  a  suitable  man  to  commence  the  work,  and  in  con- 
versation with  Victor  Sequeira,  one  of  those  most  interested  in  this 
enterprise,  he  learned  that  he,  Sequeira,  was  in  correspondence  with 
some  Protestant  Portuguese  in  Jacksonville,  111.  Through  this  cor- 
respondence he  learned  of  a  young  man,  Joseph  I.  Almeida,  who  was 
doing  evangelistic  work  there,  whose  services  it  was  thought  could  be 
obtained.  Shortly  after  this,  the  matter  of  a  Portuguese  mission  was 
brought  before  the  Methodist  Social  Union  of  New  Bedford  and  vicin- 
ity, and  Mr.  Sequeira  made  a  statement  to  the  Union  of  the  numbers 
and  religious  condition  of  his  countrymen  in  the  city.  This  awakened 
so  much  interest  that  arrangements  were  made  at  once  for  soliciting 
contributions,  and  the  responses  were  so  generous  that  the  Presiding 


140 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Elder  felt  warranted  in  undertaking  the  work,  the  more  so  as  it  had 
the  approval  of  Presiding  Bishop  Ninde  at  the  Conference,  and  of  Dr. 
Leonard,  one  of  the  Missionary  secretaries.  Accordingly  Mr.  Al- 
meida was  engaged.  He  arrived  in  New  Bedford,  May  16,  1890, 
and  held  his  first  meeting  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Fernandes,  No.  2  Bab- 
bitt Street,  Sunday,  May  18.  Cottage  meetings  were  held  till  June 
15,  when  a  store,  No.  475  South  Water  Street,  having  been  rented 
and  fitted  up  for  this  purpose,  meetings  were  opened  there.  At  first 
large  crowds  gathered  about  the  door  and  the  room  was  well  filled, 
some  with  real  interest  in  the  meetings,  some  from  curiosity,  and  some 
for  the  purpose  of  disturbing  the  meetings.  On  several  occasions 
stones  were  thrown  at  the  building,  and  considerable  disturbance  was 
created,  but  notwithstanding  this,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  reached  the 
hearts  of  some  of  the  people,  and  within  a  few  weeks  several  of  them 
were  converted,  and  the  work  continued  to  prosper.  On  November 
9th,  six  Portuguese  were  received  on  probation  in  the  Allen  Street 
M.  E.  Church.  On  June  I,  1891,  the  mission  was  transferred  from 
Water  Street  to  a  store  room,  No.  84  Potomska  Street,  which  was 
thought  to  be  a  more  desirable  location.  On  June  21,  1891,  the  mis- 
sion was  organized  as  a  church  by  the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  Walter 
Ela,  with  eleven  members  and  eight  probationers,  these  all  coming  by 
letter  from  Allen  Street  Church,  five  of  them  having  been  received 
into  full  membership  that  morning,  and  nine  having  been  baptized  by 
Mr.  Bartholomew.  In  the  afternoon,  after  a  sermon  by  the  Presiding 
Elder,  the  letters  as  above  mentioned,  were  read,  and  the  persons  were 
recognized  as  a  church.  Mr.  Almeida  having  been  previously  licensed 
as  a  local  preacher  by  Allen  Street  Quarterly  Conference,  was  ap- 
pointed preacher  in  charge.  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  then  administered,  Mr.  Bartholomew  assisting.  The  Presid- 
ing Elder  then,  in  the  presence  of  the  church,  organized  the  Quarterly 
Conference.  The  church  took  the  name  of  "First  Portuguese 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 

The  General  Missionary  Committee,  at  its  meeting  in  Boston,  in 
November,  1890,  adopted  the  mission,  and  made  an  appropriation  for 
its  support. 

When  Mr.  Almeida  left  on  May  31,  1892,  after  seven  months, 
Mr.  George  B.  Nind,  who  had  been  in  Brazil  for  nine  years,  came  to 
take  the  work.  Mr.  Nind  is  an  American,  and  did  not  speak  the 
Portuguese  language  quite  so  well  as  one  of  their  own  countrymen; 
however,  the  work  moved  along  slowly,  with  occasional  additions, 
steadily  gaining  in  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  city.  Mr.  Nind 
left  in  April,  1896,  when  A.  Ribeiro  was  appointed  pastor.  Mr. 
Ribeiro  was  at  that  time  studying  in  East  Greenwich  Academy,  learn- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


141 


ing  the  English  language.  He  has  endeavored  to  push  the  work  in 
various  ways,  especially  by  having  additional  meetings  on  Sunday, 
and  children's  classes,  etc.  The  meetings  are  well  attended,  and  the 
people  seem  to  enjoy  them. 

The  year  1896  was  a  trying  time  for  this  church,  but  it  only  drove 
the  faithful  few  to  their  knees,  and  as  a  result,  at  Christmas  time  a 
great  revival  broke  out,  and  in  a  short  time  sixty  were  added  to  the 
church,  many  of  them  young  men. 

May  God  touch  the  hearts  of  the  American  Christians  to  help 
build  a  proper  house  for  God's  worship.  That  is  the  one  thing  needed 
at  present.  The  people  among  whom  we  work  were  brought  up  in 
a  country  where  they  have  proper  places  to  worship,  and  think  a  great 
deal  of  the  place.  They  will  attend  the  religious  services  better  when 
a  new  church  building  has  been  erected.  May  it  soon  be  realized! 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORTH  DIGHTON,  MASS. 

The  first  veritable  fact  concerning  the  introduction  of  Methodism 
in  North  Dighton  is,  that  Israel  Anthony,  a  Methodist,  came  to  North 
Dighton  in  1814  as  an  overseer  in  the  Mt.  Hope  mill.  He  immediately 

interested  himself  in  the  moral  and 
religious  welfare  of  the  place. 
Through  his  influence  Methodist 
preaching  was  occasionally  had. 
During  the  latter  part  of  1815  or 
early  in  1816  a  great  revival  began 
as  a  result  of  the  preaching,  and 
under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Or- 
lando Hinds,  who  was  associated 
with  Francis  Dane  on  the  "Provi- 
dence and  A-lansfield"  circuit, 
North  Dighton  being  included. 
The  first  class  was  formed  of  the 
fruits  of  this  revival.  Very  meagre 
data  is  at  hand  concerning  the 
work  for  several  years  following. 

The  first  authentic  record  of  the 
church1  is  a  class  paper  which  was 

preserved  until  recently,  but  now  lost.  It  was  dated  Wellington,  July 
31,  1823;  the  north  part  of  Dighton  having  been  incorporated  in  1814 
as  the  town  of  Wellington.  Twenty-six  members  were  enrolled  in  the 
class.  Abiather  White  was  the  class  leader.  Lorenzo  Dow  visited 


NORTH  DIGHTON   CHURCH. 


142 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


North  Dighton  about  this  time  and  preached  twice  on  a  certain  Sab- 
bath. The  class  was  sustained  and  Methodist  doctrines  preached  dur- 
ing the  successive  years,  but  not  until  1830  did  North  Dighton  enjoy 
the  service  of  a  stationed  preacher,  Rev.  John  D.  Baldwin  having  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  appointee.  The  work  prospered  under  his 
leadership,  and  during  this  year  the  need  of  a  church  building  was  so 
urgently  felt  that  the  work  of  building  was  begun  under  the  leadership 
of  Abiather  White,  the  class  leader. 

In  1831  "Father"  Dane  and  the  Rev.  H.  Walden  were  on  the  new 
circuit  "Somerset  and  Dighton." 

The  new  church  was  formally  dedicated  to  Christian  worship  on 

Wednesday,  July  13,  1831.     The  Rev. 

Lewis  Bates  of  Bristol,  R.  I.  (better 
Known  as  Father  Bates),  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon  from  Romans  i,  16: 
"For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ." 

The  first  church  stood  upon  the 
large  rock,  not  far  distant  from  the 
present  church. 

The  financial  account,  kept  this 
year  for  the  first  time,  apparently, 
shows  that  including  $10  paid  to  the 
Somerset  preacher,  and  $26.28  as  "pri- 
vate presents  to  F.  Dane,"  only 
$157.08  was  raised  for  the  pastor 
and  "for  the  P.  Elder's  table  Ex- 
pense $9.21"!  No  wonder  that 

some  of  the  girls  employed  in  the  mills  felt  moved  to  purchase  a  new 
suit  of  clothes  to  replace  "Father"  Dane's  threadbare  garments. 

In  1837  North  Dighton  became  an  independent  charge.  Rev. 
John  Bayley  was  appointed  pastor.  From  this  date  (1837)  to  the  pres- 
ent time  a  complete  record  of  pastoral  service  has  been  preserved.  In 
1847  tne  parsonage  was  built.  Among  those  converted  this  year  were 
Josiah  R.  Talbot  and  Mary  (Pilkington)  Dunlap,  who  are  still  active 
members  in  the  church. 

Rev.  William  Cone  was  the  first  pastor  to  occupy  the  parsonage. 
The  work  of  grace  continued  this  year,  and  in  July,  1848,  a  young 
man  about  17  years  old,  then  employed  as  a  clerk  in  Mr.  Almy's  store, 
was  soundly  converted.  If  the  faithful  pastor  had  never  seen  but  this 
one  young  man  converted  during  his  entire  ministry,  he  would  have 
had  abundant  cause  for  rejoicing.  Neither  he  nor  any  of  the  church, 
however,  could  then  have  realized  what  mighty  results  were  to  follow 
from  that  one  step  of  the  young  "Charlie"  Payne. 


REV.  GEO.   SISSON. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  143 

On  January  6th,  1850,  Charles  H.  Payne  was  granted  a  license  as 
a  local  preacher. 

Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  son  of  "Father"  Bates,  became  pastor  in  1861. 
"During  these  two  years  (1861-62),  thirty-nine  who  were  members  of 
the  church  or  Sunday  school  enlisted  as  soldiers  in  the  Union  army." 

At  the  second  Quarterly  Conference,  held  July  ist,  1864,  Otis  H. 
Bates  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher.  Mr.  Bates'  license  was  re- 
newed for  many  years  and  he  had,  to  the  end  of  his  earthly  life,  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  citizen,  as  a  preacher,  and  as  a  Christian. 

In  1866  the  present  church  edifice  was  completed  (the  old  church 
having  become  "too  narrow"),  Rev.  Mark  Trafton,  D.  D.,  preaching 
the  dedicatory  sermon,  October  n.  Text:  ist  Timothy,  i,  5. 

During  the  pastorate  of  T.  Snowdon  Thomas,  1868,  Lewis  Bates 
Codding,  now  a  member  of  our  Conference,  was  converted. 

Edwin  F.  Jones  was  pastor  in  1871,  and  organized,  chiefly  from 
among  those  converted  that  year,  the  North  Dighton  Praying  Band. 
Charles  F.  Fales,  still  an  active  member  and  an  official  in  the  church, 
led  the  singing.  This  "Band"  of  young  men  was  instrumental  in 
leading  many  to  Christ  and  the  church. 

In  1874,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Ballou,  John  McVay, 
now  a  member  of  the  Conference,  was  converted. 

The  church  was  renovated  thoroughly  in  1884,  Martin  T.  Braley, 
who  had  been  converted  and  licensed  to  preach  November  22,  1884, 
took  part  in  the  re-opening  exercises  held  January  n  and  12,  1885, 
during  the  popular  pastorate  of  G.  H.  Bates.  Mr.  Brayley  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Conference,  stationed  at  Jewett  City,  Conn. 

In  April,  1885,  Frank  P.  Parkin  was  appointed  to  North  Dighton. 
He  remained  three  years  (the  full  term  at  that  time).  It  was  during 
this  pastorate  that  the  church  passed  through  its  most  trying  ordeal. 
We  quote  from  Parkin's  History  of  North  Dighton  Church: 

"Early  in  October,  the  now  historic  labor  troubles,  which  ex- 
tended throughout  the  country  during  1885-86,  broke  upon  North 
Dighton.  For  four  memorable  months  the  great  strike  continued  in 
the  Dighton  Furnace  Co.,  and  the  town,  as  well  as  the  church,  passed 
through  the  most  trying  and  critical  period  in  their  history.  For  a 
time  the  church  was  threatened  with  disruption.  Churches  in  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.,  and  other  places,  from  almost  precisely  similar  causes, 
were  nearly  destroyed;  but,  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  means 
employed,  that  calamity  was  fortunately  averted  here.  Notwith- 
standing the  adverse  circumstances  special  services  were  held,  and  a 
number  of  very  clear  conversions  occurred.  The  pastor  will  ever  re- 
member with  deep  gratitude  the  many  expressions  of  sympathy,  and 
the  prayerful  aid  which  he  received  in  his  efforts  to  preserve  the  unity 
of  the  church  during  this  most  critical  hour  in  her  history." 


144 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Many  reverses  have  come  to  this  church  in  recent  years.  A  large 
number  of  the  leading  business  men,  who  were  also  official  members 
in  the  church,  have  either  been  removed  by  death,  or  have  found 
homes  and  business  elsewhere.  In  the  official  board  of  the  First 
Church,  Taunton,  may  be  found  to-day,  at  least  four  members  who 
were  formerly  connected  with  this  church. 

The  Dighton  M.  E.  Church  is  a  direct  offspring  from  this  church. 

During-  the  four  years  service  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Ewer,  1892-95,. 
twenty-five  members  of  the  church  passed  on  to  their  reward. 

The  business  interests  of  the  place  have  waned,  and  many  Roman 
Catholics  and  other  non-Methodists  have  come  in  to  take  places  for- 
merly filled  by  Methodists. 

Still  North  Dighton  Church  is  by  no  means  an  undesirable  ap- 
pointment, the  church  having-  a  membership  of  157,  and  the  Sunday 
school  an  enrollment  of  248  members. 


1837. 

1838. 

1839. 

1840-41. 

1842. 

1843- 

1844. 

1845. 

1846. 

1847-48. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851-52- 

1853- 

I854-55- 

1856. 

J857. 
1858-59. 


PASTORS. 

John  Bay  ley  1860. 

David  Culver  1861-62. 

Ephraim  Capen  1863-64. 

Bryan  Morse  1865-67. 

George  H.  Winchester  1868. 

Charles  A.  Carter  1869-70. 

Edward  A.  Lyon  1871. 

Abel  Gardner  1872-74. 

Richard  Donkersley  1875-76. 

William  Cone  1877. 

Franklin  Gavitt  1878-79. 

W.  H.  Richards  1 880-81. 

Asa  N.  Bodfish  1882-84. 

Lawton  Cady  1885-87. 

Carlos  Banning  1888-89. 

Nathaniel  Bemis  1890-91. 

Ormando  N.  Brooks  1892-95. 

Henry  H.  Smith  1896 — 


John  N.  Collier 
Lewis  B.  Bates 
Erastus  Benton 
Asa  N.  Bodfish 
T.  Snowdon  Thomas 
W.  H.  Stetson 
Edwin  F.  Jones 
George  W.  Ballou 
George  H.  Bates 
J.  W.  Malcolm 
George  W.  Wright 
George  H.  Lamson 
George  H.  Bates 
Frank  P.  Parkin 
C.  E.  Brightman 
W.  E.  Kugler 
C.  H.  Ewer 
George  A.  Sisson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


J.  R.  Talbot,  Joseph  Philbrick,  William  B.  Hathaway,  Frank  K. 
Chase,  William  L.  White,  Charles  F.  Ingalls,  Charles  H.  Evans,  Sr., 
George  W.  Marston,  Charles  H.  Evans,  Jr.,  N.  H.  Rose,  Charles  F. 
Fales,  Eugene  R.  Rose,  George  W.  Hunt,  John  H.  Thornley,  Mrs. 
Alice  M.  Hathaway,  Mrs.  Ida  V.  Codding,  Mrs.  Nettie  A.  Chase,  Mrs. 
Emma  A.  Rose. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Eugene  F.  Rose ;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Mrs.  Alice  M.  Hathawav;  Secretary,  Miss  Emma  White; 
Treasurer,  Miss  Anne  Brownell;  Librarian,  N.  H.  Rose. 

Epzi'orth  League — President.  Pastor;  First  Vice-President,  Emma 
White;  Second  Vice-President.  Ida  White;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Alice  M.  Hathaway;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss  Maude  Rose;  Sec- 
retary, Miss  Bertha  Walsh ;  Treasurer,  Ralph  M.  Strange. 


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M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORTH  TISBURY,  MASS. 

Very  early  in  the  century  the  Methodist  itinerants  reached  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard,  and  the  people  of  North  Shore  enjoyed  the  privileges 

thus  afforded. 

In  1820  a  class  was  organized  by  Eleazer  Steele,  and  since  that 

date  Methodism  has  been  repre- 
sented, and  her  preachers  have 
found  a  home  among  this  people. 
The  school  house  or  the  homes  of 
the  people  were  depended  upon  for 
a  place  of  worship  until  1846, 
when  Rev.  A.  B.  Wheeler  secured 
the  necessary  funds  for  a  chapel. 
This  was  built  during  the  same 
year,  and  dedicated  by  appropriate 
exercises,  Rev.  Daniel  Wise  com- 
ing from  Nantucket  to  preach  the 
sermon.  Until  1857  the  people  of 
this  charge  were  dependent  upon 
the  preachers  of  Vineyard  Haven 
or  Chilmark  for  pulpit  supply.  In 
that  year  Mr.  McKinstry  was  ap- 
pointed, and  the  place  has  since 

enjoyed  regular  preaching. 

The  need  of  a  parsonage  was  greatly  felt  for  several  years.   After 

much  sacrifice  by  the  people  a  sufficient  sum  was  subscribed  to  justify 

a  beginning,  and  in  1869  the  present  house  was  built.     W.  T.  Miller 

was  somewhat  rewarded  for  his  zeal 

in  the  enterprise  by  being  privileged 

to  be  its  first  occupant. 

Prosperity  continued  to  smile  upon 

the  labors  of  this  people  during  the 

pastorate    of    Charles     Stokes.       An 

organ  was  purchased  at  this  time,  and 

at  a  meeting  held  by  the  trustees  steps 

were  taken  to  enlarge  the  church  and 

erect  a  belfry. 

Mr.    Stokes   was    succeeded   by   T. 

B.    Gurney    in     1876.        He    entered 

into    the    work    of    enlargement    with 

a  will.        During  the   year  the   work 

was     completed.        The     desk     from 

which  the  gospel  is  proclaimed  to  this  REV.  c.  w.  RUOFF. 


NORTH  TISBURY  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


people  was  made  and  presented  to  the  church  by  Mr.  Gurney  at  this 
time. 

Until  1 88 1  the  belfry  was  without  an  occupant,  but  the  ladies  and 
young  people  worked  together,  and  the  result  of  their  work  was  made 
manifest  during  this  year  by  the  purchase  of  a  $170  bell. 

While  Mr.  Fish  ministered  to  this  people  (1883-85),  the  interior 
of  the  church  was  repaired. 

Mr.  Wood  labored  (1888-90),  and  the  church  was  shingled  and 
painted. 

During  the  present  pastorate  much  has  been  done  towards  improv- 
ing both  the  church  and  parsonage  property. 

The  spiritual  affairs  of  the  charge  would  require  an  account  of 
each  pastorate,  as  each  pastor  has  accomplished  good,  and  most  have 
witnessed  the  conversion  of  souls  and  additions  to  the  church.  It  is 
pleasant  to  remark,  in  this  connection,  that  the  \vriter  of  this  article 
has  heard  some  word  of  appreciation  concerning  every  pastor  since 
the  appointment  of  Mr.  McKinstry  in  1857. 


PASTORS. 

1857.  L.  C.  McKinstry  1873. 

i858-59-  Joseph  Hunt  1874-75. 

1860.  Benjamin  Haines  1876-77. 

1861-62.  Jason  Gill  1878. 

1863.  Isaac  B.  Forbes  1879. 

1864-65.  George  Peirson 

1866.   *  David  Cook  and  G.  A.  1880-82. 

Silfverston  1883-85. 

1867-68.  James  Dixon  1886-87. 

1869-70.  William  T.  Miller  1888-90. 

1871.  Lawton  Cady,  W.  Cot-  1891-93. 

tie  and  R.  F.  Macy       1894. 

1872.  R.  F.  Macy  and  C.  G.    1895. 

Downing  1896 — 


Moses  Brown 
Charles  Stokes 
T.  B.  Gurney 
A.  B.  Bessey 

E.  H.     Hatfield     and 
J.  B.  Hamblin 

J.  B.  Washburn 
J.  S.  Fish 
J.  B.  Washburn 
James  A.  WTood 
C.  P.  Flanders 

F.  D.  Sargent 
Walter  A.  Gardner 
Chauncev  W.  Ruoff 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — President,  Edward  Cottle;  Secretary,  William  Pease; 
Hiram  Luce,  H.  Nelson  Luce,  O.  S.  Daggett. 

Stezvards—TLdward  Cottle  (R.  S.),  William  L.  Pease,  Hiram  Luce, 
H.  Nelson  Luce,  Obed  S.  Daggett,  Helen  M.  Luce,  Maria  R.  Daggett. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Anson  M.  Luce;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Edward  Cottle;  Treasurer,  Helen  M.  Luce;  Organist, 
Maud  Washburn.  Teachers,  C.  W.  Ruoff,  Maria  R.  Daggett,  J.  F. 
Luce,  Mrs.  Alice  Look,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Luce. 


UNION  CHURCH,  NORTH  TRURO,  MASS. 

In  the  closing  years  of  the  last  century  Methodist  itinerants  came 
sowing  the  seed.  North  Truro,  then  known  as  Pond  Village,  was  in- 
cluded in  the  circuit  with  Provincetown  and  Truro  Center.  There  is 
no  record  of  a  class  being  formed  till  after  the  great  revival  of  1821, 

under  Frederick  Upham  and 
others,  when  Kbenezer  Atkins  was 
appointed  class  leader,  with  a  class 
of  over  twenty  members.  This 
was  in  1822. 

After  a  few  years  the  members 
at  North  Truro  joined  those  at 
Truro  Centre,  in  building  a  meet- 
ing-house at  the  latter  place.  This 
remained  the  church  home  of  both 
societies  for  about  fourteen  years. 
The  ministers  stationed  at  Truro 
Centre,  South  Truro  and  a  teacher 
in  Provincetown,  who  afterwards 
became  the  first  pastor  in  North 
Truro,  held  preaching  services  at 
private  houses  and  at  the  school 
house.  About  1834  a  Sabbath 
school  was  organized,  each  mem- 
ber being  taxed. 

In  1840  the  Methodists  of  North 
Truro  withdrew  from  the  church 

at  the  Centre,  and  united  with  the  Congregationalists  of  the  north 
part  of  the  town  in  building  the  present  Union  Church.  The  consti- 
tution provided  that  the  pulpit  should  be  supplied  by  Congregational 
and  Methodist  ministers  alternately.  The  Methodist  Sabbath  school 
was  changed  to  a  Union  school.  The  missionary  collection  is  divided 
between  the  missionary  societies  of  the  two  denominations. 

The  church  was  built  entirely  by  local  workmen.  During  the 
pastorate  of  Isaac  Sherman,  extensive  improvements  were  made,  the 
building  being  raised  and  a  vestry  placed  under  it  at  an  expense  of 
$1,800.  Credit  for  the  success  of  the  undertaking  is  universally  given 
to  Mr.  Sherman.  His  picture  adorns  the  vestry  wall  behind  the  desk. 
A  parsonage  and  lot  were  purchased  for  $500  during  Benjamin  K. 
Bosworth's  pastorate. 

Revivals  leaving  permanent  results  occurred  during  John  D. 
King's  and  Isaac  Sherman's  pastorates. 


NORTH  TRURO  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


149 


PASTORS. 

With    denomination    to    which    they 
C,  Congregationalist;  A,  Advent. 


1840-41.     Seth  H.  Beals,  M 
1842.  Benjamin     M.     South- 

worth      (died      after 
three  months. 

1842-44.     Osborn  Myrick,  C 
1845-46.     John  D.  King,  M 
1847-48.     Arnold  Adams,  M 
1849.  Thomas       Smith,       A; 

three  months,  C 

1849-50.  George  W.  Rogers,  M 
1851-53.  Samuel  J.  M.  Lord,  C 
1855.  Franklin  Sears,  M;  six 

months 
1856-58.     Job  Cushman,  C 

1859.  Abram  Holway,  M;  six 

months 

1860.  Malcolm  D.  Herrick,  M 


1861-62. 
1863-65. 
1866-68. 
1869-70. 
1871-72. 

1873- 

1874-77. 

1878-81. 

1882-83. 

1884-86. 

1887. 

1888-90. 

1891-92. 

I893-95- 
1896 — 


belong:      M,    Methodist; 

Joseph  A.  Bartlett,  M 
Philander  Bates,  C 
Charles  Stokes,  M 
Jacob  W.  Price,  M 
H.  W.  S.  Packard,  M 
Joel  Martin,  M 
Isaac  Sherman,  M 
Charles      Morgan,      M 

then  C 

Samuel  Morrison,  C 
Benj.  K.  Bosworth,  M 
Frederic  A.  Crafts,  M 
C.  P.  Flanders,  M 
John  E.  Duxbury,  M 
Charles  A.  Purdy,  M 
Arthur  H.  Scudder,  M 


REV.  A.  H.  SCUDDER.  MRS.    A.    H.    SCUDDER. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — Mrs.  Mary  M.  Fisher,  John  L.  Rich  (D.  S.),  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  C.  M.  Button,  Mrs.  Ida  L.  Lombard,  Mrs.  Amelia  L.  Rich, 
Mrs.  Emma  F.  Smith,  William  F.  Button.  \ 

Class  Leader — Mrs  Elizabeth  C.  M.  Button. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  Smith;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Emma  F.  Smith;  Treasurer,  John  L.  Rich;  Librarian,  Arthur 
-Atwood. 


THE   ORLEANS  CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ORLEANS,  MASS. 

In  giving  a  history  of  the  church,  we  find  that  it  is  difficult  to 
obtain  just  the  right  information  needed.  In  the  early  part  of  the  iCjth 
century  there  was  organized  a  Reformed  Methodist  Church.  The 
date  of  its  organization  has  long  ago  passed  out  of  sight.  We  find  a 

record  of  the  first  Sunday 
school  in  this  church, 
which  was  organized  on 
Sunday,  August  2,  1827. 
All  trace  of  this  society  is 
lost  until  1836,  when  this 
Reformed  Methodist  or- 
ganization requested  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Webb  to  supply 
them  a  minister  from  the 
Conference.  The  Confer- 
ence met  in  August  of  the 
same  year,  and  Rev.  T.  G. 
Brown  was  the  man  sent 
to  Orleans  as  the  first  pas- 
tor of  the  M.  E.  Church 

proper.  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  and  wife  came  to  Orleans  in  September, 
and  organized  the  M.  E.  Church.  The  first  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered  in  October,  1836,  continued  with  a  four  days 
meeting  and  thirty-five  precious  souls  found  their  way  out  of  darkness 
into  light. 

In  1838  the  Rev.  Philip  Crandon,  of  sainted  memory,  was  sta- 
tioned here,  and  on  July  I2th,  1838,  commenced  taking  down  the  old 
church  building,  which  was  purchased  by  the  M.  E.  Society,  and  work 
was  begun  on  the  present  structure  in  a  new  location.  The  corner- 
stone of  this  house  of  worship  was  laid  August  2ist,  1838.  At  this 
time  Rev.  Mr.  Crandon  was  absent  and  the  Rev.  Davis  Lathrop  of 
the  Baptist  Church  was  invited  to  come  and  offer  the  first  prayer  in  the 
new  Methodist  Church  building. 

November  16,  1838,  saw  the  new  enterprise  completed,  and  at 
10.30  A.  M.  of  the  same  day  it  was  dedicated  to  Him  who  is  the  author 
of  all  grand  enterprises.  The  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Joel  Steele, 
and  the  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  F.  Upham,  Presiding  Elder. 
He  selected  for  the  foundation  of  his  remarks  John  viii,  9-10.  For 
nearly  sixty  years  this  society  has  stood  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day. 
It  was  born  in  an  atmosphere  of  opposition  and  exists  in  the  same 
to-day,  but  this  has  only  tended  to  preserve  and  make  it  useful.  The 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


decline  of  the  fishery  industry  has  crippled  it  in  numbers.  On  account 
of  no  employement  here  our  people  are  compelled  to  move  elsewhere 
for  a  livelihood.  Our  membership  has  decreased  until  it  only  numbers 


REV.  G.  O.  THOMPSON. 


MRS.  G.  O.  THOMPSON. 


about  fifty  active  members,  with  a  few  passive  ones. 

This  sketch  would  not  be  complete  without  the  mention  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  E.  Doane,  daughter  of  Prince  S.  and  Nancy  B.  Harding,  who 


MISS   FLOSSIE  SMITH. 
Epworth    League  President. 


MRS.  SARAH  E.   DOANE. 


were  staunch  Methodists,  and  who  were  among  the  first  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  our  church  in  this  place  so  many  years  ago.  In  the 
year  1856,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander,  who 
conducted  one  of  the  most  successful  revivals  ever  held  in  this  church, 


1 52  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Mrs.  Doane  with  about  fifty  others  started  on  that  long  journey  that 
knows  no  end.  Most  of  this  company  are  now  traveling  in  the  Heav- 
enly country.  Mrs.  Doane  is  still  with  us,  and  is  one  of  our  greatest 
factors  in  the  light  and  life  of  the  church.  She  has  just  placed  in 
the  church  a  memorial  window  in  honor  of  her  precious  sainted  father 
and  mother.  Long  may  she  live  to  bless  this  church  and  community. 
The  building  is  now  undergoing  a  thorough  repairing  and  remod- 
eling. A  new  tower  has  been  built  which  is  55  feet  high  and  a  1,200- 
pound  bell  placed  in  the  same.  Mr.  A.  O.  Smith  of  Boston  and  others 
are  preparing  memorial  windows  for  the  church.  When  completed  it 
will  be  one  of  the  coziest  little  churches  on  the  Cape.  What  the  future 
of  »1ie  rbnrch  will  be  we  cannot  predict.  But  we  know  that  He  who 
!••  tl  c  <T?rrr\v  that  falls,  and  waters  the  lily  by  the  brook,  and 
MI  iiibi.rs  the  hairs  of  our  heads,  will  care  for  His  little  church  in  Or- 
leans. Let  us  trust  in  Him. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Ezra  Knowles,  Thomas  Smith,  Jabez  Sparrow,  Gorge 
Fisk,  Mrs.  Oliver  Doane,  A.  O.  Smith,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Smith,  Mrs. 
Thankful  Knowles,  Mrs.  Ellen  Harding. 

Stewards — Ezra  Knowles,  Thomas  Smith,  A.  O.  Smith,  George 
Fisk,  Mrs.  Ezra  Knowles,  Mrs.  Ellen  Harding,  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Doane, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Smith,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Young. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Thomas  Smith;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, George  Fisk;  Secertary,  Asa  O.  Smith;  Treasurer, 
Freeman  Collins;  Librarians,  Miss  Sadie  Collins  and  Miss  Grace  Fisk. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Mary  E.  Young,  Mrs.  Thankful  Knowles,  Mrs. 
Clara  Smith,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Hurd,  Miss  Fannie  M.  Smith,  Mrs.  George 
Fisk,  Ezra  Knowles,  Mrs.  G.  O.  Thompson;  Miss  Grace  Fisk, 
Organist. 

Epworth  League — Organized  October  21,  1889,  by  Rev.  O.  A.  Far- 
ley, Chap.  No.  1240 — President,  Miss  Flossie  Smith;  Department 
Spiritual  Work,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Smith;  Department  Mercy  and  Help,  Mrs. 
Clara  Smith;  Literary  Department,  Mrs.  Susie  Snow;  Social,  Miss 
Ethel  T.  Dyer;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Agnes  Hall. 


M.  E.  CHURCH.  OSTERVILLE,  MASS. 
By  Rev.  George  M.  Fowles. 

The  first  Methodists  of  this  village  were  members  of  the  church 
at  Marston's  Mills.  In  1829  a  class  numbering  about  ten  was  organ- 
ized at  Osterville  with  Oliver  Hinckley  as  leader.  The  members  of 
this  class  still  retained  their  connection  with  the  church  at  the  Mills, 


THE  OSTERVILLE  CHURCH. 

and  attended  preaching  services  there,  until  1846,  when  thirty-two 
withdrew  from  that  church  and  formed  a  separate  organization  at 
Osterville.  Services  were  held  in  the  old  Meeting-House  until  the 
following  year,  when  a  church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,500, 
all  of  which  was  provided  for  before  dedication.  A.  M.  Osgood  was 
pastor.  Robert  M.  Hatfield  of 
Sandwich  preached  the  dedi- 
catory sermon. 

In  1848  Osterville  be- 
came a  district  charge,  and 
John  B.  Hunt  was  stationed 
here  as  preacher  in  charge. 
During  his  pastorate  the  par- 
sonage was  built  and  fur- 
nished. 

In  1858,  while  J.  W.  Wil- 
lett   was   pastor,   a   bell    was 
purchased  and  placed  in  the          THE  OSTERVILLE  PARSONAGE. 
tower.      The  vestry  was  built 
and  furnished  in  1862,  while  H.  D.  Robinson  was  stationed  here. 

The  first  organ  was  placed  in  the  church  in   1869,  during  the 


154 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


pastorate  of  C.  N.  Hinckley.  This  was  replaced  by  the  present  organ 
in  1888,  while  E.  B.  Gurney  was  pastor.  In  1890  the  entire  church 
was  remodeled  and  refurnished  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,600,  all  of  which 
was  paid.  F.  H.  Corson  was  pastor. 

An  historical  sketch  of  this  church  would  not  be  complete  without 
special  mention  of  the  labors  and  liberality  of  Oliver  Hinckley  and 
his  wife.  Both  were  converted  in  1828,  under  the  ministry  of  Enoch 
Bradley.  Both  were  members  of  the  first  class  formed  in  Osterville. 
Their  house  was  the  home  of  the  Methodist  preachers  for  over  half 
a  century.  Father  Hinckley,  from  the  time  of  his  appointment  as 


REV.  G.  M.   FOWLES. 


FATHER  HINCKLEY. 


class  leader  in  1829,  until  his  death  in  1888,  was  an  effective  member 
of  the  official  board.  This  church  has  been  especially  blessed  in  hav- 
ing loyal  devoted  Christian  workers  on  the  various  boards.  Of  the 
original  board  of  trustees,  John  A.  Blossom  served  thirty-one  years; 
Josiah  Scudder,  Jr.,  thirty  years;  George  H.  Hinckley,  forty-four — all 
of  which  time  he  was  secretary.  Oliver  Crocker  is  the  only  surviving 
member  of  that  board.  He  has  completed  fifty  years  of  official  service, 
and  for  the  last  thirty  years  has  been  President  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. Four  ministers  have  been  raised  up  in  this  church:  E.  B.  Hinck- 
ley, C.  N.  Hinckley,  James  R.  Goodspeed  and  G.  B.  Hinckley.  The 
last-named  was  a  local  preacher. 

At  present  the  membership  is  not  as  large  as  it  once  was,  but 
Methodism  still  has  a  loyal  band  of  workers  here.  Several  of  the  first 
members  of  the  church  have  been  spared  to  bless  the  present  genera- 
tion with  their  devotion  and  their  prayers.  All  things  considered,  our 
church  is  prosperous  now,  and  is  looking  forward  to  better  things  in 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


155 


the  future.  In  closing  this  sketch  we  wish  to  state  that  of  late  years 
the  church  has  found  a  number  of  friends  and  helpers  among  the 
summer  visitors.  One  of  these  deserves  especial  mention.  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Gaff,  a  noble  Christian  woman,  by  her  influence,  her  presence  at  the 
church  services,  and  her  liberality,  is  a  great  help  to  the  church  and 
an  example  of  a  Christian  abounding  in  good  works  while  away 
from  home  to  spend  the  summer  season. 


MARY    W.    SCUDDER. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


1847. 


1849. 
1850. 

1851. 
1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855-56. 
1857-58. 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 
1863-64. 

1865. 
1866. 
1867-69. 
1870-71. 


PASTORS. 

A.  M.  Osgood 

1872-73. 

John  B.  Hunt 

1875-76. 

Nahum  Tainter 

1876. 

John  Tasker 

1877. 

J.  B.  Washburn 

1878. 

B.  K.  Bosworth 

1879-80. 

J.  C.  Allen 

1881-83. 

John  B.  Hunt 

1884. 

John  Collier 

1885-86. 

John  W.  Willett 

1887. 

E.  H.  Colby 

1887. 

H.  D.  Robinson 

1888-89. 

Edward  Edson 

1890-91. 

Edward  B.  Hinckley 

1892-94. 

E.  M.  Anthony 

1895. 

C.  N.  Hinckley 

1896. 

S.  P.  Snow 

1897- 

OLIVER  CROCKER. 
President  Board  of  Trustees. 


C.  H.  Ewer 
J.  W.  Fitch 

D.  C.  Porter 
G.  H.  Butler 

E.  S.  Fletcher 
S.  H.  Day 

G.  A.  Grant 
W.  W.  Hall 
L.  B.  Codding 
C.  H.  Dalrymple 
E.  F.  Newell 

E.  B.  Gurney 

F.  H.  Corson 
Oscar  E.  Johnson 

G.  A.  Sisson 
O.  A.  Farley 
George  M.  Fowles 


156 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 
PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees  and  Stewards — Oliver  H.  Crocker,  President;  James  R. 
Goodspeed,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Mrs.  A.  A.  Cram  (R.  S.),  James 
West,  Bethuel  Adams,  Freeman  Scudder,  H.  Foster  Lewis,  W.  Scott 
Scudder,  Albert  Crocker,  Edwin  H.  Lewis,  Frances  S.  Dane,  Martha 
W.  Crocker,  Emma  C.  Cammett,  Mary  W.  Scudder,  Cora  Lewis, 
Augusta  H.  Scudder. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Mary  Scudder;  Secretary, 
Miss  Mildred  Patterson;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Edwin  H.  Lewis; 
Treasurer,  Miss  Hannah  Lewis;  Librarian,  Miss  Etta  Lovell. 

Epworth  League — The  Epworth  League  was  organized  September, 
1897,  and  has  not  yet  elected  officers  for  all  the  departments.  At  pres- 
ent those  elected  are  as  follows:  President,  George  M.  Fowles;  Depart- 
ment Social  Work,  Miss  Etta  Lovell;  Secretary-Treasurer,  Mrs.  Cora 
Lewis. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CENTERVILLE,  MASS. 

By  Mrs.  Bertha  Sears  Lewis. 

In  the  beginning  of  Centreville  Methodism  a  few  persons  joined 
the  Methodist  church  at  Osterville.  These  few  started  a  sewing  circle 
at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Susan  Phinney.  The  first  circle  was  held  at  the 
home  of  Mrs.  Luther  Phinney,  where  baked  beans  were  served  for 


THE   CENTERVILLE   CHURCH. 

supper.  The  articles  made  at  these  circles  were  sold  at  fairs.  After 
a  good  many  meetings  of  this  kind  from  house  to  house,  where  the 
ladies  sewed  and  chatted,  enough  money  was  realized  to  build  the 
church.  The  church  was  dedicated  in  1876.  It  has  not  been  an  inde- 
pendent church,  but  was  joined  with  Osterville  at  first,  and  then  Barn- 
stable.  During  the  past  two  years  it  has  been  connected  with  Oster- 
ville. Among  the  preachers  who  have  served  this  church,  S.  Hamil- 
ton Day,  D.  D.  (now  pastor  of  Grace  M.  E.  Church,  St  Augustine, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  157 

Florida),  deserves  special  mention.  He  came  here  in  1879  and  re- 
mained two  years.  He  and  his  talented  wife  labored  heartily  and 
successfully,  and  many  abiding  influences  of  his  faithful  work  may  be 
seen  here. 

Rev.  George  A.  Grant  is  also  one  of  the  pastors  whose  work  was 
successful.  He  came  here  in  1887  on  his  first  charge,  remaining  three 
years,  attracting  large  congregations,  and  left  with  the  love  of  the 
whole  place. 

Lewis  B.  Codding  was  also  very  successful  in  his  two  years'  min- 
istry here,  1885-6.  Osterville  and  Centreville  were  also  his  first 


LUTHER    PHINNEY.  R.    E.    CHILDS. 

charges.  During  special  revival  services  he  was  assisted  by  a  conse- 
crated layman,  Hon.  Franklyn  Howland  of  Acushnet,  Mass.  A 
rather  unique  thing  occurred  during  this  revival.  A  circle  of  several 
of  the  most  popular  young  women  in  this  place  who  had  become 
fascinated  with  dancing  were  converted,  and  the  balls  ceased-  Ten  of 
these  young  women  were  received  into  the  church  at  one  time,  one 
of  whom  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  E.  F.  Newell,  while  the 
others  became  women  of  influence  in  this  and  other  communities. 

Rev.  Rennetts  C.  Miller,  the  editor  of  this  Souvenir  History, 
came  to  us  in  April,  1892,  as  he  was  closing  his  theological  course  in 
Boston  University,  and  began  his  ministry  here,  preaching  also  at 
Barnstable  the  same  year.  He  found  the  congregations  small  and 
the  people  greatly  discouraged.  By  his  energetic  efforts,  abundant 
enthusiasm  and  natural  oratorical  ability  the  congregations  increased 
till  the  church  was  filled.  No  difficulty  was  experienced  in  raising 
money  for  the  various  objects  of  the  church.  The  revival  of  that  year 
left  some  permanent  spiritual  results  for  his  labor. 


158 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Rev.  Sarah  A.  Dixon,  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Dixon  of  Barn- 
stable,  was  sent  here  in  1894  as  a  "supply"  during  her  college  course 
in  Boston  University.  She  attracted  large  congregations  every  Sab- 
bath. The  interest  was  undiminished  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  her  two  years  pastorate.  Her  consecrated  life,  faithful  pastoral 
work,  and  eloquent,  thoughtful  sermons  have  left  a  deep  impression 
on  this  place- 

During  the  past  few  years  this  little  church  has  had  to  face  some 
hard  problems,  and  what  the  future  will  be  is  as  yet  uncertain.  Since 
last  April,  Rev.  G.  M.  Fowles,  a  student  in  Boston  University  School 
of  Theology,  has  been  supplying  the  pulpit  with  great  satisfaction  to 
the  people. 

PASTORS. 


1877.  George  H.  Butler 

1878.  Ephraim  S.  Fletcher 
1879-80.     S.  Hamilton  Day 
1881-83.     George  A.  Grant 
1884.   *      Winfield  W.  Hall 
1885-86.     Lewis  B.  Codding 
1887  to  Jan.  i,  '88.     C.  H.  Dal- 

rymple 
1888-89.     Elmer  F.  Newell 


1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

1893. 

1894-95. 

1896. 

1897. 


George  Bernreuter 
Robert  S.  Moore 
J.  F.  Prior 
Rennetts  C.   Miller 
J.  S.  Meracle 
Sarah  A.  Dixon 
O.  A.  Farley 
George  M.  Fowles 


HENRY  B.   SEARS. 


MRS.  EUNICE  PIUNNEY  (deceased). 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards— Henry  B.  Sears,  C.  H.  Sears,  Augustus  F.  Childs, 
Mrs.  Tryphosa  Lewis,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Childs,  Mrs.  Hannah  Childs, 
Nathan  H.  Bearse. 

Trustees—  Luther  Phinney,  Nathan  H.  Bearse,  R.  E.  Childs, 
Reuben  Childs,  Benjamin  Childs,  Edward  W.  Childs,  Henry  B.  Sears. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent — Nathan  H.  Bearse. 


MEMORIAL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PLYMOUTH,  MASS. 

Early  itinerant  ministers,  traveling  from  Boston  down  to  Cape  Cod, 
often  passed  a  night  and  preached  at  Plymouth.  Among  them  were 
Revs.  George  Pickering,  Francis  Asbury,  Father  Taylor,  and  in  the 
later  time,  B.  Otheman,.  and  Frederick  Upham.  By  these  and  others, 
Methodism  was  introduced  to  the  attention  of  the  people,  as  also  by 
the  settlement  of  Methodists  from  other  places.  Wisely  divining  the 


PLYMOUTH   MEMORIAL    CHURCH. 

outlook,  Rev.  Frederick  Upham,  D.  D.,  then  Presiding  Elder,  organ- 
ized a  Methodist  Church  December  4,  1842,  consisting  of  fourteen 
members  and  eleven  probationers.  Rev.  E.  B.  Bradford  was  preacher 
in  charge  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  when  Nelson  Goodrich  was 
stationed  here  for  1843-44.  From  1845  to  1851,  the  Society  was  with- 
out a  stationed  pastor. 

Classes  were  often  formed  and  as  often  failed  of  permanent  organ- 
ization. There  was  one  man,  prominent  among  these,  who  had  been 
converted  in  Duxbury,  through  whose  influence  these  scattered  mem- 
bers were  at  length  collected  into  a  church.  This  was  William  R. 
Drew,  who  still  lives  to  see  the  result  of  the  work  done  in  those  early 
years. 


i6o 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Previous  to  the  organization,  casual  sermons  were  preached  in 
private  residences,  Brown's  Hall,  and  the  Green  Meeting  House, 
which  was  hired  about  two  years. 

In  February,  1852,  the  Robinson  Congregational  Church  was 
purchased. 

In  1869  under  the  direction  and  by  the  labor  of  Rev.  William 


PLYMOUTH  MEMORIAL,  PARSONAGE. 

Livesey  the  house  was  raised  and  a  vestry  added.     It  was  otherwise 
repaired  and  beautified,  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars. 


REV.   E.   F.   CLARK. 


MRS.   E.   P.   CLARK. 


Soon  after  a  parsonage  was  secured  though  the  debt  on  it  was. 
not  paid  till  1881. 

The  continued  growth  of  the  Society  made  possible  the  change 
of  location  and  the  building  of  a  new  church.  A  new  lot  was  secured 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


161 


opposite  the  Court  House  on  Court  Street,  and  the  present  commo- 
dious house  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  nearly  twenty-six  thousand  dollars. 
The  honor  of  its  erection  fell  to  Rev.  Walter  J.  Yates,  who  laid 
the  corner-stone   October  4,    1884.     This,  known   as  the   Memorial 


MRS.  P.  R.  CLIFFORD. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


H.    L.   JOHNSON. 
Epworth   League  President. 


Church,  was  dedicated  June  9,  1886,  under  the  successful  pastorate  of 
Rev.  George  H.  Bates. 

The  parsonage  was  sold  at  this  time  and  a  commodious  house 
provided  near  the  church.     A  new  street  was  laid  out  just  south  of 


R.  S.  DOUGLASS. 


WILLIAM  R.   DREW. 
President  Board  of  Stewards. 


the  church.     This  added  much  to  the  value  and  beauty  of  the  church 
as  it  placed  the  church  on  a  corner  lot.     Adjacent  land  has  been 


1 62 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


bought,  and  when  the  environment  has  been  completed,  the  view  will 
be  one  of  the  most  desirable  in  the  Conference. 

While  most  pastorates  have  witnessed  conversions,  some  are 
especially  memorable  in  this  direction.  The  pastorates  of  Revs. 
Moses  Chase  and  George  H.  Bates  command  especial  notice. 

Its  financial  history  is  redolent  with  honor,  personal  sacrifice  and 
liberality.  The  cost  of  Memorial  Church  was  twenty-five  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirty-eight  dollars,  and  while  others  were  liberal, 
the  munificence  of  William  R.  Drew  and  Roswell  S.  Douglass  merits 
lasting  gratitude. 

PASTORS. 


1843-44. 

1845-51- 
1852. 

1853-54. 

1855- 

1856. 

1857- 

1858. 

1859. 

1 860-6 1. 

1862-63. 

1864-66. 

1867-68. 

1869-70. 


Nelson   Goodrich  1871. 

No  regular  ministry.  1872. 

Lorenzo  White  J873- 

Moses  Chase  1874-76. 

William  Kellen  1877. 

Carlos  Banning  1878. 

Edward  H.  Hatfield  1879-81. 

E.  K.  Colby  1882-84. 

Robert  Clark  1885-87. 

Thomas  Sleeper  1888-89. 

Franklin  Gavitt  1890-92. 

George  F.  Pool  1893-96. 

Henry  H.  Martin  1897 — 
William  Livesey 


Theodore  M.  House 
Augustus  W.  Mills 
George  A.  Morse 
John  W.  Malcolm 
James  O.  Thompson 
Frederic  A.  Crafts 
John  H.  Allen 
Walter  J.  Yates 
George  H.  Bates 
Joseph  H.  James 
George  E.  Brightman 
John  H.  Newland 
Edgar  F.  Clark 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Official  Board — William  R.  Drew,  Roswell  S.  Douglass,  Winslow 
Rickard,  W.  P.  Rickard,  C.  E.  Stevens,  John  E.  Jordan,  William  Grant- 
ham,  J.  F.  Moore,  J.  B.  Briggs,  James  Skillman,  W.  T.  Burbank, 
Lyman  F.  Tripp,  W.  H.  Henry,  James  Gyngell,  Harry  L.  Johnson, 
C.  L.  Johnson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  P.  R.  Clifford;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  H.  L.  Johnson;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Otis  B.  Morton; 
Treasurer,  William  T.  Burbank;  Superintendent  Primary  Department, 
Miss  Lizzie  F.  Morton. 

Epworth  League — President,  Harry  L.  Johnson ;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, S.  William  Churchill;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  F.  J.  Doug- 
lass; Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Grace  W.  Irwin;  Fourth  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss  Gertrude  C.  Bennett;  Secretary,  Miss  Mary  B.  Magee; 
Treasurer,  Arthur  E.  Austin. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CHILTONVILLE,  MASS. 

"RUSSELL,  MILLS." 

It  was  dedicated  January  i,  1840.  Elder  William  Faunce,  the 
founder  (residing  at  that  time  at  what  is  now  called  Russell  Mills), 
was  a  nailer  by  trade,  and  being  very  much  interested  in  Christian 
work,  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a  church. 

His  education  was  very  limited,  and  having  no  funds  of  his  own 


THE  CHILTONVILLE  CHURCH. 

to  carry  on  the  work,  contributions  were  solicited  from  any  who  were 
willing  to  lend  a  helping  hand. 

The  Fourth  Congregational  Church  of  Chiltonville  being  just 
completed,  and  the  carpenters  having  lumber  left  over  from  the  build- 
ing, agreed  to  sell  it  to  Mr.  Faunce  at  a  discount  and  erect  the  church 
on  very  easy  terms. 


MISS    KATE    W.    HADAWAY. 
Asst.  Superintendent  Sunday  School. 


MISS    BELLA    NEWHALL. 
Third    Vice-President    Epworth    League. 


i64 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


The  dedication  took  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  ordination  of 
the  pastor  (Mr.  William  Faunce)  in  the  afternoon.  The  church  or- 
ganized consisted  of  ten  persons,  and  was  called  the  Christian  Baptist 
Church.  Mr.  Faunce  was  pastor  of  the  same  about  eighteen  years, 
and  then  took  a  new  field  of  labor  at  Mattapoisett,  where  he  still 
resides. 

After  a  few  weeks,  there  being  a  division  of  opinion  in  the  church, 
Rev.  Mr.  Mayall,  from  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church,  was  chosen 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  In  about  six  months'  times  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Tozer,  who  remained  about  the  same  length  of  time.  The 
next  in  succession  was  Rev.  Mr.  Carter,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  he 
was  succeeded  byRev.Mr.  Smith  for  the  space  of  two  years.  Rev.  Mr. 
Clark  then  filled  the  vacancy  about  four  years.  After  he  left  Rev. 
Mr.  Taylor  preached  here  occasionally  for  a  few  months,  and  then  the 
church  was  closed  until  ten  years  ago. 
The  M.  E.  Church  at  Plymouth, 
through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Arnold, 
to  whom  much  praise  is  due,  interested 
itself  in  the  matter  and  accepted  it  as 
a  branch  of  that  church,  it  having  no 
separate  organization  of  its  own. 
Rev.  Oscar  Johnson  was  the  first  pas- 
tor, for  about  two  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Oscar  Hillard  for 
the  same  space  of  time.  The  next 
in  succession  were  Rev.  Edwin  S. 
Tasker,  who  remained  for  seven 
months;  Rev.  C.  B.  Allen,  sixteen 
months;  Rev.  Mr.  Houldgate,  nine 
months;  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer,  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Xenophon  McKee  Fowler. 


REV.   X.    McKEE    FOWLER. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Sunday  School- — Superintendent,  X.  M.  Fowler;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Kittie  W.  Hadaway;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mary  L. 
King;  Librarian,  Mrs.  Sarah  Thurston. 

Epworth  League — President,  X.  M.  Fowler;  First  Vice-President, 
Miss  Mary  L.  King;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Delia  Newhall; 
Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  S.  Bennett;  Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  B.  S.  Had- 
away; Assistant  Secretary,  Miss  Kittie  W.  Hadaway;  Treasurer,  Miss 
Mary  L.  King. 


, 

V  > 

£  2 


CENTENARY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVINCETOWN,  MASS. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1847  some  of  the  prominent  members 

of  the  only  Methodist  church  in  Provincetown  were  led  seriously  to 

consider  the  matter  of  a  second  Methodist  church,  to  be  located  in 

the  western  part  of  the  town,  for 
the  better  accommodation  of  many 
whose  residences  were  in  that  sec- 
tion. 

The  Rev.  William  T.  Harlow, 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  District, 
was  consulted,  and  encouraged  the 
people  to  carry  out  their  plans. 
Accordingly,  in  January  of  1848, 
Freeman  Atkins,  Samuel  Soper 
and  Rums  L.  Thatcher,  in  behalf 
of  the  new  society,  purchased  an 
edifice  which  had  been  the  property 
and  the  place  of  worship  of  the 
Universalist  Society. 

In  the  following  March  the  car- 
penters were  set  to  work  remodel- 
ing the  building,  and  in  six  months' 
time  the  building-  was  ready  for 
occupancy.  At  this  time,  Septem- 
ber, 1848,  ninety-one  members 

of  the  Centre  withdrew  for  the  purpose  of  forming  the  new  society. 

The  pastor  of  this  flock  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Fox,  whose  first  sermon 

was  based  on  the  text  found  in  the 

Second  Epistle  of  Paul  to  the  Corin- 
thians, the  thirteenth  chapter,  the  fifth 

verse:  "Examine  yourselves,  whether 

ye  be  in  the  faith;  prove   your  own 

selves." 

Some  of  the   company   present  on 

that     occasion     yet     remain     among 

us;   others,   many  others,  have   gone 

to     the     church     triumphant.       The 

name     which      the  '  young     society 

adopted  and  by  which  it  was  known 

for  nearly  a  score  of  years,  was  the 

"Wesley     Chapel."       In     1865     the 

project  of  a   new  house   of  worship 

was    discussed    by    the    members  of  REV.  c.  E.  HARRIS. 


CENTENARY     CHURCH,     PROVINCE- 
TOWN. 


SOL' I' EN  I R  HISTORY. 


167 


Wesley  Chapel.  The  Rev.  J.  F.  Sheffield,  at  this  time  pastor  of  the 
church,  labored  hard  for  the  new  church  and  brought  the  scheme  well 
forward  prior  to  the  appointment  of  his  successor.  Arrangements  for 
building  were  perfected,  and  on  June  14,  1866,  with  the  Rev.  George 
W.  Bridge  as  captain  of  the  host,  the  people  went  up  to  the  feast  of 
dedication.  The  sermon  on  that  occasion  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
Jesse  T.  Peck,  D.  D.,  Chancellor  of  Syracuse  University,  and  in  1872 
made  a  Bishop  in  the  Methodist-Episcopal  Church.  For  a  little  more 
than  thirty  years  the  Centenary  Church  has  worshipped  in  this  spacious 
and  beautiful  edifice. 


MYRON    C.    ATWOOD, 
Treasurer  for  seventeen  years. 


WALLACE  CUTTER, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


PASTORS. 

1848.  Samuel   Fox  1872-73. 

1849-50.  Azariah  B.  Wheeler  1874-76. 

1851-52.  John   Livesey,  Jr.  1877-79. 

l853~54-  Josiah  Higgins  1880-81. 

1855-56.  N.  P.  Philbrook  1882-83. 

1857-58.  B.  K.  Bosworth  1884. 

1859-60.  J.  T.  Wright  1885-86. 

1861-62.  I.  Cooper  1887-88. 

1863-64.  J.  F.  Sheffield  1889-91. 

1865-66.  George  W.  Bridge  1892. 

1867.  George  M.  Hamlet?  1893. 

1868-69.  Shadrach  Leader  1894-95. 

1870-71.  Andrew  J.   Kenyon  1896 — 

1872.  John  Livesey 


William  McK.  Bray 
George  A.  Morse 
George  H.  Bates 
George  W.  Hunt 
John  H.  Allen 
Warren   Applebee 
George  C.  King 
Thomas  J.  Everett 
Samuel  McBurney 
A.  A.  Kidder 
A.  N.  Searles 
George  A.  Grant 
Charles  E.  Harris 


!68  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Parish  Committee — Benjamin  H.  Dyer,  Nathan  Young,  Fred  E. 
Williams,  Seth  Smith,  Henry  T.  Chipman,  Myrick  C.  Atwood. 

Trustees — Seth  Smith,  Nathan  Young,  Benjamin  H.  Dyer,  B.  O. 
Gross,  Andrew  T.  Williams,  L.  M.  Paine,  Stephen  F.  Atwood,  Fred- 
erick A.  H.  Gifford,  Gushing  H.  Emery. 

Stewards — Nathan  Young,  B.  O.  Gross,  Benjamin  H.  Dyer,  Seth 
Smith,  Gushing  H.  Emery,  Alfred  J.  Emery,  Nathaniel  W.  Ayers, 
Frederick  A.  H.  Gifford,  Stephen  F.  Atwood,  Charles  L.  Young, 
William  S.  Birge,  Ella  F.  Birge,  Priscilla  B.  Young  (R.  S.),  Seth 
Smith  (D.  S.),  Benjamin  H.  Dyer. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Wallace  Cutter;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Alary  E.  Sparrow;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Andrew  T. 
Williams;  Librarian,  Myrick  C.  Atwood;  Assistant  Librarians,  Fred 
E.  Williams,  Louis  Allen.  Teachers — L.  N.  Paine,  James  Callaghan, 
Emily  F.  Smith,  Phebe  E.  Freeman,  Priscilla  B.  Young,  Mary  E. 
Sparrow,  Millie  F.  Chace,  Charles  E.  Harris,  Rebecca  L.  Nickerson, 
Millie  F.  Young,  Alice  Young,  Louise  Atwood,  Clara  L.  Watson, 
H.  E.  Holmes,  Louise  Ellis. 


REV.  G.  M.  HAMLEN,  D.  D.,  AND  HIS  WORK. 

In  the  fall  of  1888  Dr.  Hamlen  was  invited  to  take  the  financial 
agency  of  Mallalieu  Seminary,  Kinsey,  Alabama,  a  school  which  had 
had  a  delicate  life  for  five  or  six  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  acceptance 
was  regarded  as  a  sort  of  forlorn  hope.  After  spending  a  few  months 


PRES.    G.    M.    HAMLEN    AND    WIFE. 

in  presenting  the  work  to  the  people  as  occasion  offered,  he  went 
South  to  visit  the  work,  and  in  connection  with  Mrs.  Hamlen  they 
.spent  some  three  months  there  studying  the  situation.  Poverty  and 
illiteracy  met  them  on  every  hand,  but  what  seemed  stranger  than 
these  was  the  insatiate  desire  on  the  part  of  so  large  a  proportion  of 
the  people,  old  and  young,  to  profit  by  the  school  privileges  offered 
them.  Parents  were  willing,  and  in  most  cases  compelled,  to  make 
unusual  sacrifices  that  their  children  could  attend  school. 

Most  of  the  students  now  in  school  are  aided  from  the  "Indigent 
Students'  Fund."  Were  this  larger  many  more  might  be  in  attend- 
ance. After  one  year's  service  as  Financial  Agent  he  was  unani- 
mously elected  president  of  the  institution,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  Under  his  administration  the  institution  has  been  freed  from 
-an  onerous  debt.  Several  acres  of  land  have  been  purchased  and  a 
large  dormitory  has  been  built,  in  accordance  with  a  plan  sent  from 
Cairo,  Egypt,  by  Bishop  Mallalieu.  This  is  the  largest  building  in 
Henry  County  and  gives  students  who  cannot  afford  to  pay  five  dol- 
lars a  month  for  board  an  opportunity  to  board  themselves.  There 
have  been  enrolled  180  students  during  the  year.  A  special  act  of 
legislature  protects  the  village  from  the  saloon  for  a  radius  of  two 
miles.  Conversions  occur  all  through  the  year. 

Dr.  Hamlen  is  now  seeking  an  endowment  fund.  Fifty  thousand 
dollars  would  put  this  institution  beyond  any  fear  of  failure  (finan- 
•cially),  and  the  invitation  could  be  extended  to  all  our  poor  brethren 
-.in  white,  "Send  in  your  children." 


CENTRE  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVINCETOWN,  MASS. 


The  spacious  and  beautiful  harbor  of  Provincetown  has  been 
known  to  civilization  since  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  here  in 
the  bleak  November  of  1620,  and  their  tarry  of  a  month  before  going 
to  Plymouth  for  their  final  settlement.  Next  to  the  Mayflower,  the 

most  important  vessel  which  has 
found  shelter  in  these  hospitable 
waters  is  that  of  Captain  William 
Humbert.  He  was  on  his  way 
from  New  York  to  St.  John,  New 
Brunswick.  Adverse  winds  made 
the  voyage  hard  and  perilous,  and 
wind-bound  he  sought  refuge  here. 
He  was  a  local  preacher,  the  first 
Methodist  to  visit  Provincetown, 
where,  in  1793,  he  proclaimed  our 
distinctive  doctrines. 

The  seed  soon  took  root 
and  within  two  years  the  first 
house  of  worship  was  erected, 
the  society  duly  organized  and 
Provincetown  established  as  one 
of  the  stations  on  the  Sand- 
wich district.  The  name  ap- 
CENTRE  CHURCH,  PROVINCETOWN.  pears  for  the  first  time  in  the  list 

of  appointments  at  the  Conference 

held  in  New  London,  Conn.,  July  15,  1795-     George  Cannon  was  the 
first  circuit  preacher,  and  Jesse  Lee  the  first  presiding  elder. 

While  Methodist  doctrine  was  taking  firm  hold  upon  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  it  was  also  stirring  up  bitter  opposition.  The 
town,  by  formal  vote  in  a  pub- 
lic meeting,  declared  that  the 
Methodists  should  not  have 
a  house  of  worship  within 
its  limits.  Deeming  their 
rights  invaded,  the  heroic 
band  proceeded  to  build.  But 
persecution  continued  for  30 
years,  so  that  it  was  far  from 
being  safe,  not  to  say  respect- 
able, to  be  a  Methodist. 
Men  piled  up  fish  heads 


on 


the      shore      for      boys 


CENTRE  CHURCH  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


171 


to  throw  at  the  Methodists  as  they  went  to  church.  Many  a  woman 
crawled  on  her  hands  and  knees  under  the  fish  flakes  in  order  to  avoid 
the  insults  sure  to  be  heaped  upon  her.  So  great  were  these  abuses 
that  at  one  time  some  30  or  40  members  of  the  early  church  removed 
in  a  company  to  the  state  of  Maine,  where  they  might  live  in  peace  and 


REV.    W.     P.    BUCK.  MRS.    W.    P.    BUCK. 

worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences.  As 
the  Puritans  fled  from  religious  intolerance  in  England,  so  fled  these 
Methodists  from  the  persecutions  of  the  descendants  of  these  Puritans 
on  the  very  shore  of  the  new  world  first  trod  by  Pilgrim  feet. 

But  these  years  of  trial  were  not  without  their  triumphs.  God 
added  to  the  church  year  by  year  such  as  were  being  saved.  A  large 
increase  in  the  classes  and  in  the  mem- 
bership and  influence  of  the  church 
soon  followed.  For  years  now  about 
three-fourths  of  the  Protestant  popula- 
tion are  Methodists. 

Besides  many  smaller  harvests, 
powerful  revivals  occurred  under  the 
labors  of  Messrs.  Kibby,  Bidwell, 
Townsend  and  Young.  Its  love  of 
music  and  its  gift  for  song,  its  power 
of  exhortation  and  of  prayer,  have 
marked  the  church  for  years. 

A  good  number  were  added  to  the 
church  and  $3,000  were  raised  and 
spent  on  repairs  during  the  pastorate 

_*    /~i       A       Oi       i  T'l  D.   M.    Mc'KAY, 

of  C.  A.  Stenhouse.     The  pastorates          Sunday  School  superintendent. 


172 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


of  P.  M.  Yinton,  R.  Povey  and  other  earlier  pastorates  have 
been  generally  successful.  (Here  it  ought  to  be  said  that  the  present 
pastorate  has  been  specially  blessed  with  a  gracious  revival. — Editor.) 

Its  present  splendid  edifice,  the  fourth  in  the  history  of  the  church,, 
was  built  in  1860-61  and  dedicated  by  Mr.  Hatfield.  It  is  an  archi- 
tectural gem,  its  graceful  spire  162  feet  in  height;  it  contains  128 
pews,  seating  900  persons,  and  cost  $22,000.  In  neatness,  conven- 
ience and  elegance,  it  is  one  of  the  finest  churches  in  our  Conference. 
Its  centennial  was  appropriately  celebrated  in  1895. 


Paul  Townsend 
John  Lovejoy 
William  T.  Harlow 
Elisha  B.  Bradford 
Pardon  T.  Kinney 
William  Livesey 
Robert  McGonegal 
Merritt  P.  Alderman 
Asa  N.  Bodfish 
Edward  H.  Hatfield 
Josiah  T.  Benton 
G.  W.  Bridge 
A.  P.  Aiken 
C.  S.  Macreading 
Charles  Young 
J.  H.  lames 
E.  F.  Clark 
Angelo  Canoll 
H.  H.  Martin 
A.  William  Seavery 
W.  W.  Colburn 
P.  M.  Vinton 
Charles  A.  Stenhouse 
Richard  Povey 
Walter  P.  Buck 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees  and  Stcivards — Joseph  Whitcomb,  Obadiah  Snow, 
Stephen  Mott,  Josiah  Swift,  Byley  Lyford,  Reuben  S.  Snow,  Silas  C. 
Mott,  E.  O.  Snow,  W.  K.  Nickerson,  D.  M.  McKay,  and  George 
Hubbard. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Daniel  M.  McKay;  First  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  Mrs.  M.  Emma  Smith;  Second  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Rev.  E.  B.  Hinckley;  Secretary,  Betty  D.  Rich;  Treasurer, 
Louis  M.  Snow;  Librarian,  William  A.  McKay;  Chorister,  Obadiah 
Snow;  Pianist,  Mrs.  Cora  G.  W.  Fuller. 


PASTORS. 

1795- 

George  Cannon 

1842-43. 

1796. 

Robert  Yallelee 

1844-45. 

1797. 

Jacob  Ricklow 

1846-47. 

1798. 

Smitt  Weeks 

1848-49. 

1799. 

William  Beaucamp 

1850-51. 

1800. 

John  Merrick 

1852-53- 

1801. 

Solomon  Langdon 

I854-55- 

1802. 

Edward  Whittle 

1856-57- 

1803. 

Allen  H.  Cobb 

1858-59. 

1804. 

Alfred  Metcalf 

1  860-6  1. 

1805. 

Philip  Munger 

1862. 

1806. 

Elijah  Willard 

1863-64. 

1807-12. 

Alexander   McLane 

1865-66. 

1812-24. 

Epaphras  Kibby 

1867-68. 

1824-25. 

Shipley  W.  Willson 

1869-71. 

1826-27. 

Leonard  Bennett 

1872-73. 

1828-29. 

Epaphras  Kibby 

1874-76. 

1830-31. 

Ebenezer  Blake 

1877-79. 

1832-33. 

Ephraim  Wiley 

1  880-8  1. 

1834- 

John  E.  Risley 

1882-83. 

1835-36. 

Frederick  Upham 

1884-86. 

1837-38. 

Ira  M.  Bidwell 

1887-89. 

1839. 

Ezekiel  W.  Stickney 

1890-92. 

1840. 

Aaron  D.  Sargent 

1893-94. 

1841. 

Samuel  W.  Coggeshall 

1895- 

SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


173 


Teachers — Mrs.  D.  A.  Small,  Mrs.  Mary  Mclntyre,  Airs.  Salome  C. 
Havves,  Mrs.  Thomas  S.  Taylor,  Miss  Hannah  Verge,  Miss  Rosilla 
McKay,  Rev.  E.  B.  Hinckley,  Mrs.  Heman  Smith,  Mrs.  Isaac  Lewis, 
Miss  Sarah  Hatch,  Obadiah  Snow,  Joseph  Whitcomb,  Miss  Angie 
Bell,  Miss  Josephine  Johnson,  Rev.  W.  P.  Buck,  Miss  Cora  Daggett, 
Miss  Myra  C.  Burt,  Mrs.  William  Roberts;  Mrs.  Alice  A.  H.  Young, 
Superintendent  Primary  Department;  Mrs.  A.  L.  Putnam,  Assistant. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SAGAMORE,  MASS. 

Sagamore  was  formerly  "West  Sandwich,"  and  the  people,  in 
order  to  attend  the  Methodist  Church,  were  obliged  to  go  to  Sand- 
wichtown,  two  miles  or  more  from  their  homes.  But  that  was  at  a 
time  when  Methodist  zeal  made  the  miles  seem  short  and  people  were 
willing  to  travel  far  to  hear  Methodist  preaching. 

In  1830,  however,  it  was  thought  best  to  erect  a  church  in  Saga- 
more, and  Benjamin  Burgess,  Covell  Burgess  and  Herman  Gurney 

were  appointed  a  building  commit- 
tee, and  it  was  largely  due  to  the 
financial  help  of  the  first-named 
member  of  the  committee  that  the 
entire  cost  of  the  church,  $3.000, 
was  soon  paid. 

Rev.  Frederick  N.  Upham,  D. 
D.,  that  "Apollo  Belvedere" 
among  the  early  preachers  on  the 
Cape,  wrote  the  deed  and  that 
deed  remains  sure  and  steadfast 
like  "the  law  of  the  Medes  and 
Persians,  that  altereth  not." 

It  is  a  notable  fact  that  at  the 
"church  raising"  just  100  men  were 
present. 

The  church  was  large  and  com- 
modious,   having    a    gallery    and 
choir-loft,  and  in  those  days  it  was  often  crowded  to  overflowing. 

But  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  F.  Whidden,  in  1868,  the 
galleries  were  taken  out  and  the  church  remodeled  and  a  new  furnace 
put  in  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,400.  Mr.  Hiram  Crowell,  though  not  a 
church  member,  and  yet  like  Hiram  of  Tyre,  who  helped  Solomon 
build  the  temple,  was  the  leader  in  this  work. 

At  the  present  time  the  people  are  giving  liberal  subscriptions 
for  further  improvements  in  the  church. 


THE  SAGAMORE  CHURCH. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


Sagamore  shared  in  great  revivals  that  swept  over  the  church  in 
early  days.  During  the  pastorates  of  Rev.  H.  Mayo,  Lewis  Bates, 
James  H.  Cooley  and  S.  Frank  Whidden,  there  were  remarkable  re- 


REV.   E.   E.   PHILLIPS. 


MRS.    E.    E.    PHILLIPS. 


vivals.  But  perhaps  the  greatest  revivals  of  all  was  in  the  forties, 
when  a  layman  in  the  Reformed  Church,  Nathan  Howes,  came  up 
the  Cape  and  held  meetings  among  the  people.  There  have  been 


REV.    J.    P.    THURSTON, 
Local    Preacher. 


MRS.   GEO.  W.  STARBUCK, 
Epworth  League  President. 


revivals  here  under  the  preaching  of  other  pastors,  and  also  through 
the  efforts  of  men  like  Dunbar,  Steele  and  the  famous  J.  N.  Maffit, 
who  preached  in  this  church  some  of  his  most  powerful  sermons. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  ij- 

Rev.  Joseph  Marsh  of  Sandwich  supplied  this  church  many  times. 
Masterful  preaching  was  not  without  good  results. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Sheffield,  a  parsonage  was 
bought  at  Bournedale — once  North  Sandwich — and  moved  to  Saga- 
more. The  whole  cost  amounted  to  about  $1,600.  Rev.  F.  Gavitt 
first  occupied  it  in  1866. 

PASTORS. 

At  first  this  charge  was  joined  with  Sandwich,  and  the  earliest 
records  state: 

1836.  H.  Mayo  1863-64.     B.  T.  Bos  worth 

1837.  Sandwich  and   Scusset,  1865.          John  F.  Sheffield 

H.  H.  Smith  1866.  F  Gavitt 

1838.  Samuel  Phillips  1867-69.  S.  Frank  Whidden 
1839-40.     Warren  Emerson  1870.   '  R.  F.  Macy 
1841-42.     E.  B.  Bradford  1871-72.  H.  B.  Cady 

1843.  G.  F.  Pool  1873.          Philip  Crandon 

1844.  Franklin    Gavitt    (then  1874-75.     A.  N.  Bodfish 

as     a     separate  ap-  1876.  Charles  E.  Walker 

pointment).  1877.  Heflin  S.  Smith 

1845.  Thomas  Ely  1878-79.  Archibald  McCord 
1846-47.     Lewis  Bates  1880-81.  George  H.  Butler 

1848.  Left  to  be  supplied.  1882-83.  George  H.  Lamson 

1849.  J-  D.  Butler  1884-85.  Robert  Clark 
1850-51.  G.  H.  Winchester  1886-87.  Edward  A.  Lyon 
1852-53.  B.  L.  Sayer  1888.  Hugh  Copeland 
J854-55.  Thomas  D.  Blake  1889-90.  E.  F.  Newell 
I8s6-57.  James  B.  Washburn  1891-92.  M.  B.  Wilson 
1858-59.  James  H.  Cooley  1893-94.  William  Kirkby 

1 860-61.     Avell  Alton  1895—        E.  E.  Phillips 

1862.  Thomas  D.  Sleeper 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Calvin  Crowell,  William  C.  Gibbs,  L.  R.  Leavitt,  A.  T. 
Rogers,  Hiram  Crowell,  Isaac  N.  Keith. 

Stewards — Calvin  Crowell,  William  C.  Gibbs,  L.  R.  Leavitt,  A.  T. 
Rogers,  Mrs.  M.  O.  Leavitt,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Burgess,  Mrs.  H.  R.  Burgess, 
Mrs.  Mary  D.  Packard,  Mrs.  George  W.  Starbuck,  Mrs.  Sarah  P. 
Battles. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Pastor;  Assistant  Superintendent, 
Rev.  J.  F.  Thurston;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  M.  O.  Leavitt; 
Librarian,  George  W.  Starbuck. 

Epivorth  League — President,  Mrs.  George  W.  Starbuck;  First 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Albert  Holway;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss 
Cora  Thompson;  Third  Vice-President,  Rev.  J.  F.  Thurston;  Fourth 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Jennie  F.  Perkins;  Secretary,  Miss  Ada  Crowell; 
Treasurer,  Miss  Christine  Crowell. 

Local  Preacher — J.  F.  Thurston,  Bournedale. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SANDWICH,  MASS. 

Methodism  in  Sandwich  is  one  hundred  years  old.  Although 
Jesse  Lee  preached  in  the  town  in  1796,  it  was  not  until  1797  that  the 
society  was  formed  by  Rev.  Joshua  Hall.  The  first  meeting-house 
was  dedicated  October  25,  1828,  by  Rev.  John  Lindsey,  and  the  pres- 


THE   SANDWICH   CHURCH. 


ent  edifice  was  dedicated  January  7,  1848,  by  Rev.  Abel  Stevens. 

The  early  history  of  this  old  church  is  almost  wholly  a  history  of 
revivals,  notable  ones  occurring  during  the  pastorates  of  F.  Upham, 


REV.   J.  E.   BLAKE. 


MRS.    GRACE    A.    BLAKE. 


E.  B.  Bradford,  C.  H.  Payne,  W.  T.  Worth,  John  Livesey  and  S.  M. 
Beale. 

For  the  last  few  years  business  has  declined,  as  it  has  in  most  of 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


177 


the  towns  of  Cape  Cod,  and  Sandwich  has  lost  twenty-five  per  cent,  of 
her  population,  yet  the  church  sounds  no  note  of  discouragement 
and  shows  an  increase  of  membership. 


THE   SANDWICH   PARSONAGE. 

PASTORS. 

We  must  remember  that  for  many  years  Sandwich  belonged  to  a 
circuit;  then  there  will  be  no  confusion  if  the  same  names  appear  in 
other  sketches  beside  the  same  dates. 


1797-99. 


Joshua  Hall,  Joseph 
Snelling,  Epaphras 
Kibby,  and  Reuben 
Jones 

Daniel  Fiddler 

Joshua  Soule 

Daniel  Fiddler,  Solo- 
mon Langden,  Daniel 
Bachelor,  Joseph 
Snelling,  Due  Bur- 
gess and  Moses  Cur- 
rier 

Nathan  Ryder  and 
Erastus  Otis 

Thos.  Asbury,  Nathan 
Stearns, Joseph  Snell- 
ing 

Joseph  Merrill,  Falmouth,  was 
1823-24.     A.  O.  Sargent  and  Jon- 
athan Mayhew 

Erastus  Otis,  John 
Hutchinson  and  J.  N. 
Maffit 


1800. 
1801. 
1802-5, 


1806. 
1807-8. 


1825. 


1809.  B.   F.  Lumbert 

1810.  Stephen  Bailey 
1811-12.     Aaron    Lummins    and 

Levi  Nye 

1813-14.     Stephen  Bailey 

1815-16.  J.  W.  Hardy,  Richard 
Emory,  Benjamin 
Hoit  and  Moses  Fi- 
field 

1817.  Benjamin      Hoit      and 

Moses  Fifield 

1818-19.  Rev.  Mr.  Hazelton— 
Barnstable  was  add- 
ed at  this  time 

1820-22.  E.  T.  Taylor.  F.  Up- 
ham  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown 

added  to  the  circuit  at  this  time. 
F.     Upham — Falmouth 
dropped  at  this  time 
Enoch  Bradley  and  Na- 
than B.  Spanieling 
F.  Upham  and  Lemuel 
Harlow 


1826-27. 


1828. 
1829. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1830.  F.  Upham  and  R.   D.  1851. 

Esterbrook,     assisted   1852. 

by  Joseph  Marsh,  a  1853-54. 

talented  local  preach-  1855-56. 

er,  whose  success  was  1857. 

marvellous  and  who  1858-59. 

died  at  an  advanced  1 860-61. 

age,    a   member    be-  1862-63. 

loved  of  this  church  1864-65. 

1831.  Joseph  Steele  1866-67. 

1832.  Joseph    Steele,    C.    C.  1868. 

Noble     and     Joseph  1869. 

Marsh  1870-71. 

l&33-  John  J.  Bliss  and  J.  1872-74. 

Litch  1875-76. 

1834.  George  Stone  1877-78. 

1835-36.  Henry  Mayo  l%79- 

1837.  Henry  M.  Smith  1 880-81. 

1838.  Samuel  Phillips  1882-83. 
1839-40.     Warren  Emerson  1884-86. 
1841-42.     E.  B.  Bradford  1887-88. 

1843.  George  F.  Pool  1889-90. 

1844.  Franklin  Gavitt  1891-92. 
1845-46.     Thomas  Ely  1893-94. 
1847-48.     Robert  M.  Hatfield  1895. 
1849-50.-  James  O.  Butler  1896 — 


Micah  J.  Talbot 
E.  B.  Bradford 
H.  W.  Houghton 

B.  Otherman 

C.  H.  Payne 
N.  P.  Philbrook 
Nathaniel  Bemis 
W.  V.  Morrison 
W.  T.  Worth 
W.  H.  Starr 
Charles  Young 
Andrew  J.  Kenyon 
A.  W.   Paige 
John  Livesey 
Charles  S.  Nutter 
Eben  Tirrell,  Jr. 

E.  S.  Fletcher 
Silas  Sprouls 
J.  Q.  Adams 
S.  M.  Beale 
O.  A.  Farley 
Robert  Clark 
R.  J.  Kellogg 
G.  W.  Elmer 
C.  N.  Hinckley 
John  E.  Blake 


J.    S.    SMITH, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


H.   L.  CHIPMAN, 
Epworth  League  President. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


179 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — John  S.  Smith,  P.  T.  Brown,  W.  C.  Chipman,  Benjamin 
Irwin,  F.  A.  Fisher,  I.  T.  Jones,  S.  O.  Ellis,  F.  W.  Holway. 

Stewards — John  S.  Smith,  P.  T.  Brown,  W.  P.  Chipman,  H.  L. 
Chipman,  Benjamin  Irwin,  F.  N.  Holway,  G.  R.  Fish,  Russell  Fish. 
C.  H.  Chappnil,  C.  H.  Burgess,  C.  E.  Hoxie,  F.  M.  Tinkham. 

Class  Leaders — P.  T.  Brown,  H.  L.  Chipman. 

Church  Officers — Sunday  School  Superintendent,  John  S.  Smith, 
Epworth  League  President,  Herbert  L.  Chipman. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOMERSET,  MASS. 

The  Somerset  M.  E.  Church  was  born  in  a  sail  loft  at  the  head  of 
Burgess'  Wharf.  There  Byron  Norse  held  a  protracted  meeting  in 
which  many  were  converted.  The  new  converts  were  organized  into 
a  church,  and  in  November,  1842,  A.  D.,  a  new  edifice  was  dedicated 
as  their  church  home.  The  first  years  were  years  of  struggle  with 

poverty  and  persecution.  Yet 
Methodism  held  its  ground,  and 
in  1848,  at  the  close  of  the  suc- 
cessful pastorate  of  Father  Na- 
than Paine,  could  claim  forty 
members  and  five  probationers. 

In  1857,  the  fifteenth  year  of 
the  society's  history,  the  church 
was  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
The  Sabbath  School  numbered 
100,  and  large  additions  were 
made  to  the  library.  During  the 
last  six  months  of  the  Conference 
year  1858-59,  the  pulpit  was  sup- 
plied by  C.  H.  Payne,  now  widely 
known  as  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  He  con- 
ducted a  glorious  revival,  in 
which  many  were  added  to  the 
church. 

In  1860  A.  D.,  when  the  spirit  of  secession  was  rife  in  the  South. 
twenty-one  members  and  other  families  related  withdrew  from  our 
congregation  and  formed  the  Congregational  Church  of  this  place. 
That  year  C.  M.  Alvord  began  his  pastorate  with  only  twenty-eight 
members.  However,  the  congregation  soon  increased  to  sixty,  and 
at  the  end  of  his  two  years'  ministry  they  numbered  seventy-five. 


THE   SOMERSET   CHURCH. 


i8o 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


THE    SOMERSET    PARSONAGE. 


In  1871,  the  church,  under  the  care  of  James  H.  Nutting,  enjoyed 
a  gracious  revival,  and  became  self-supporting. 

In  1873,  Oliver  H.  Fernald,  pastor,  the  membership  was  eighty- 
eight  and  there  were  seventeen  pro- 
bationers. This  year  the  "Somerset 
Religious  and  Humane  Society,"  in 
whose  name  the  church  property  was 
held,  reorganized,  so  that  there  might 
be  no  dispute  regarding  its  just  title 
to  both  the  land  and  the  building. 
Then  the  work  of  remodeling  the 
building  began.  It  was  lenthened 
twenty  feet,  making  room  for  an  or- 
gan gallery,  covered  with  a  new  roof 
and  a  steeple  added.  The  "Sewing 
Circle,"  placed  in  the  church  a  beau- 
tiful sweet-toned  pipe  organ.  The 
cost  of  the  improvements  was  $6,721. 
The  resurrected  church  was  dedicated 
by  Bishop  Wiley  January  28, 

1874.     Two  years  later,  by  the  aid  of  the  Sewing  Circle  and  the  sale 
of  the  pews,  the  debt  upon  the  church  was  cancelled. 

In  1880  George  H.  Bates  was  appointed  pastor.  During  his  suc- 
cessful pastorate  the  society  enjoyed 
prosperity  and  the  church  was  paint- 
ed and  improved.  There  were  77 
members  and  two  probationers  at  the 
close  of  his  pastorate,  April,  1882. 
James  Tregaskis  became  pastor  in 
1884  and  served  the  church  three 
years.  Within  this  time  the  church 
building  was  greatly  improved  on  the 
inside,  and  when  it  was  re-opened  the 
finances  were  so  well  in  hand  that  no 
collection  was  necessary.  The  mem- 
bership suffered  greatly  by  removals, 
thirty-one  persons  leaving  the  town 
in  these  three  years.  Since  that  time 
the  church  has  never  regained  its  for- 
mer strength.  Death  and  removals 

Tiave  made  the  society  still  weaker,  so  that  at  the  present  time  there  are 
only  sixty  members. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  during  the  pastorate  of  R.  J. 


REV.   F.   C.   ANDERSON. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


181 


Floody,  but  in  a  short  time  was  suspended.  It  was  re-organized  in 
February,  1895,  W.  F.  Taylor,  pastor,  and  is  now  in  a  fairly  prosperous 
•condition.  Recently  it  purchased  a  new  piano  for  the  vestry,  and  has 
now  paid  for  it  in  full.  Our  League  has  proven  a  spiritual  help  to 
the  church. 


PASTORS. 

1842.  Byron  Morse  1865. 

1843.  Levi  Daggett  1866. 

1844.  E.  W.  Stickney  1867. 

1845.  Israel  Washburn  1868. 

1846.  John  W.  Chase  1869. 
1847-48.  Nathan  Paine  1870-71. 

1849.  Charles  Hammond  1872-74. 

1850.  Father  Fillmore  1875. 

1851.  O.  Huse  1876-77. 
1852-53.  E.  H.  Hatfield  1878-79. 
1854.   V  W.  H.  Richards  1 880-81. 
I855-  John  Livesey  1882-83. 
1 856-57.  Franklin  Gavitt  1884-86. 

1858.  Tames  Macreading  and    1887-88. 

C.     H.     Payne     (six    1889. 

months)  1890. 

1859.  E.  A.  Lyon  1891. 
1 860-6 1.  C.  M.  Alvord  1892. 
1862-63.  William  T.  Worth  1893-96. 
1864.  C.  S.  Sanford  1897— 


B.  K.  Bosworth 
George  L.  Westgate 
Samuel  J.  Carroll 
Micah  J.  Talbot 
H.  H.  Smith 
James  H.  Nutting 
O.  H.  Fernald 
Samuel  M.  Beale 

E.  M.   Dunham 
Charles  E.  Walker 
George  H.  Bates 
J.  D.  King 
James  Tregaskis 
J.  N.  Patterson 
Frederick  Corson 
Albert  Cameron 
L.  H.  Massey 

R.  J.  Floody 
W.  F.  Taylor 

F.  C.  Anderson 


s.  F.  STAPLES. 

Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


MISS    EVA  WESTGATE. 
Epworth    League   President. 


1 82 


SOU  I  'ENIR  HIS  TOR  V. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Calvin  E.  Denham,  Samuel  T.  Staples,  Benjamin  E. 
Cundall,  David  Marble,  Philip  E.  Bowers,  Bradford  E.  Marble. 

Stewards — Calvin  E.  Denham  (R.  S.),  Samuel  T.  Staples,  Ben- 
jamin E.  Cundall,  David  Perry,  Harry  Simmons,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Eddy, 
Mrs.  Celinda  Marble,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Smith,  Miss  Jennie  E.  Bowers. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  S.  F.  Staples;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Miss  Jennie  Bowers;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Arthur  Marble; 
Pianist,  Miss  Gertrude  Marble;  Librarian,  Forrest  Simmons. 

Teachers — Miss  Jennie  Bowers,  F.  C.  Anderson,  Miss  Eva  West- 
gate,  Miss  Jennie  Eddy,  Miss  Emma  Eddy,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Smith,  Miss 
Gertrude  Marble,  Miss  Sophia  Marble,  S.  T.  Staples. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Eva  Westgate;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  A.  Ross;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Jennie  E.  Bowers; 
Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Emma  Eddy;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Jennie  Eddy;  Secretary,  Allen  B.  Smith;  Treasurer,  'Harry  W.  Sim- 
mons. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  CARVER,  MASS. 

Previous  to  1831  meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  and 
private  houses  in  the  neighborhood.  The  first  Methodist  church  in 
Carver  was  organized  May  18,  1831,  by  Rev.  L.  D.  Johnson  under  the 
title  Reformed  Methodist.  The  church  was  reorganized  April  30, 
1859,  by  Rev.  S.  Y.  Wallace  under  the  title  Protestant-Methodist. 

The  society  continued  as  Prot- 
estant-Methodist until  August  9, 
1867,  when  it  was  reorganized 
again  by  Rev.  Thomas  Ely,  Pre- 
siding Elder,  as  a  Methodist-Epis- 
copal church,  and  Rev.  E.  M.  Dun- 
ham was  appointed  preacher  in 
charge. 

In  the  commencement  of  Meth- 
odism in  Carver  Charles  Ryder, 
Ichabod  Shurtleff  and  Thomas 
Maxim,  trustees  of  the  Reformed 
Methodist,  led  the  movement  in 
building  the  chapel  at  Huckleberry 
Corner,  where  the  Methodists  have 
worshipped  for  over  fifty  years. 
Charles  Ryder  was  a  class  leader 
from  the  commencement  of  Meth- 


RBV.  E.   A.    HUNT. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


183 


odism  in  Carver  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  August  2, 
1886.  He  was  a  devoted  Christian,  an  earnest  worker,  and  did  much 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  church. 

All  the  pastors  have  la- 
bored faithfully.  Those 
worthy  of  special  mention 
are  E.  Williams,  W.  I. 
Ward,  J.  S.  Fish  and  J.  E. 
Duxbury.  Revs.  W.  E. 
Manley  and  T.  P.  Fisher 
have  entered  the  foreign 
mission  fields.  Here  Rev. 
W.  I.  Ward  found  his  wife 
who  has  made  his  life 
happy  and  useful. 


SOUTH   CARVER   CHURCH. 

NEW  CHURCH  MOVEMENT. 

It  had  been  the  custom  of  the  Methodists  in  this  place  to  hold 
religious  meetings  in  the  hall  at  Furnace  Village,  about  one  and  three- 
fourth  miles  from  the  chapel.  This  work  seemed  to  grow  in  im- 
portance. In  1893  it  was  thought  best  to  make  the  work  in  that  locality 

permanent,  so  an  old  store  was  leased 
and  fitted  up  and  dedicated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Lord  on  January  i,  1894. 
It  was  very  soon  found  that  this 
building  was  too  small  for  the  in- 
creasing congregations  and  for  the 
Sunday  School  work.  This  state  of 
affairs  existed  until  a  suitable  lot  was 
given  by  Hon.  Peleg  McFarlin,  and 
the  trustees  erected  the  present  build- 
ing, which  was  dedicated  Dec.  31, 
1896,  by  Presiding  Elder  T.  J.  Ever- 
ett. This  building  is  of  modern  archi- 
tecture, is  very  commodious  and  con- 
venient, and  altogether  a  suitable 
building  for  the  worship  of  the  Lord; 
situated  in  the  centre  of  the  vil- 
lage of  two  hundred  and  eleven  people,  a  large  number  of  whom  are 
young  people  and  children. 


CHAPEL,   AT   FURNACE   VILLAGE. 


1 84 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1867-69. 

1870. 

1871-72. 

1873-74. 

1875. 

1876-77. 

1878. 

1879. 


Elisha  M.  Dunham 
B.  L.  Sayer 
R.  H.  Dorr 
Paul  Townsend 
E.  Williams 
A.  B.  Bessey 
W.  I.  Ward 
H.  W.  Hamblin 


1880. 

1881. 

1882-85. 

1886-88. 

1889-90. 

1891. 

1892. 

1893.- 


J.  B.  Hamblen,  Jr. 
C.  Smith. 
E.  A.  Hunt 
J.  S.  Fish 
J.  E.  Duxbury 
W.  E.  Manley 
T.  P.  Fisher 
E.  A.  Hunt 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — W.  S.  McFarlin,  S.  F.  Atwood,  H.  C.  Washburn,  Jason 
B.  McFarlin,  J.  Bradford  McFarlin,  C.  H.  Atwood,  H.  H.  Gammons. 

Stewards— S.  F.  Atwood,  W.  S.  McFarlin,  J.  S.  Hudson,  H.  C. 
Washburn,  W.  F.  Stanley,  G.  W.  Atwood,  E.  Dunham,  J.  T.  Mc- 
Farlin, C.  H.  Atwood,  Mary  Stanley,  Julia  Hudson,  Harriet  McFarlin, 
Sarah  Andrews. 

Class  Leaders — S.  F.  Atwood,  W.  F.  Stanley. 

Superintendents  Sunday  School — J.  S.  Hudson,  W.  F.  Stanley. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  HARWICH,  MASS. 

What  is  now  the  South  Harwich  Methodist-Episcopal  Church 
was  for  a  number  of  years  the  Reformed  Methodist  Church,  ministers 
of  that  denomination  officiating  for  about  ten  years.  In  1845  tne 

church  changed  its  name  to 
that  of  Wesleyan  Methodist, 
calling  for  their  first  pastor, 
Rev.  James  Wright,  who  was 
followed  by  Rev.  John  A. 
Gibson.  Rev.  Davis  Lathrop, 
a  Baptist  minister,  was  for  a 
few  years  employed  to  supply 
the  pulpit.  It  appears  that  he 
was  not  very  evangelical  in  his 
preaching  and  the  mem- 
bers were  not  satisfied  with 
SOUTH  HARWICH  CHURCH.  the  doctrines  he  preached; 

but      there      was      connected 

with  the  church  what  was  known  as  "The  Society."  This  consisted  of 
the  pew-holders.  Many  of  these  were  in  favor  of  continuing  Mr. 
Lathrop  as  preacher.  In  view  of  the  division  it  was  deemed  best  to 
sell  the  house  at  public  auction,  which  was  done  March  4,  1853.  It 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


185 


was  bid  in  by  a  member  of  the  church,  who  with  others  held  the  house 
for  the  use  of  the  Wesleyans.  The  services  of  Mr.  Lathrop  were  dis- 
continued, and  Rev.  Samuel  Palmer  called  as  pastor.  He  served  the 
church  one  year. 

It  was  then  decided  to  request  a  supply  from  the  Methodist- 
Episcopal  Conference,  and 
Rev.  Thomas  Spilsted  was  ac- 
cordingly appointed.  Under 
him  the  present  church  organ- 
ization was  effected.  August 
31,  1854,  the  members  were 
transferred  from  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  to  the  Methodist- 
Episcopal  Church.  The  next 
year  the  property  was  deeded, 
according  to  the  provision  of 
the  discipline  to  the  Metho- 
SOUTH  HARWICH  PARSONAGE.  dist  Episcopal  Conference. 

This  was  during  the  pastorate 

of  Rev.  Ezekiel  Adams,  who  seems  to  have  been  earnest  and  success- 
ful in  the  undertaking. 

The  present  pastorate  has  been  blessed  with  a  number  of  addi- 
tions to  the  membership  and  many  temporal  improvements.  The  in- 
terior of  the  church  has  been  completely  changed  in  its  appearance 
at  a  considerable  outlay  of  money.  A  new  barn  has  been  built  the 
present  year. 

A  historical  sketch  of  the  church  would  be  very  incomplete  with- 
out mention  being  made  of  the  late  Obed  Nickerson,  who  was  a  mem- 


RBV.    CHARLES   SMITH. 


WILLIAM   F.    SEARS. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


i86 


SOLTEXIR  HISTORY. 


her  of  the  church  for  forty-one  years,  and  in  every  way  one  of  its  most 
devoted  and  faithful  stewards.  Through  his  efforts  Methodism  is 
largely  what  it  now  is  in  this  village. 

PASTORS. 


1858-59- 

1860. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865-66. 

1867. 

1868-69. 

1870-71. 

1872-73. 

1874. 


Thomas  Spilsted  1875. 

Ezekiel  Adams  1876-77. 

George  Burnham  1878-79. 

B.  K.  Bosworth  1 880-81. 

Lemuel  Harlow  1882-83. 

H.  D.  Robinson  1884-86. 

F.  A.  Loomis  1887. 

James  Mather  1888-89. 

Charles  Hammond  1890-92. 

Joseph  Marsh  J893. 

S.  P.  Snow  1894. 

Eben  Tirrell  1895— 


V.  W.  Mattoon 
G.  H.  Lamson 
J.  T.  Phelps 
Merrick  Ransom 
J.  Q.  Adams 
J.  S.  Thomas 
F.  D.  Sargent 
E.  S.  Fletcher 
R.  M.  Wilkins 
William  Kirkby 
N.  B.  Cook 
Charles  Smith 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Official  Board— W.  M.  Eldridge,  A.  S.  Ellis,  Thomas  Small,  W.  F. 
Sears,  Albert  Crowell,  J.  W.  Cahoon,  E.  E.  Bassett,  Hannah  Eldridge, 
G.  C.  Doane. 

Superintendent  Sunday  School — William  F.  Sears. 

Epworth  League — President,  Rev.  Charles  Smith;  First  Vice- 
President,  Wilber  T.  Crowell;  Second  Vice-President,  W.  F.  Sears; 
Secretary,  Miss  Almena  Eldridge;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Minnie  R.  Sears. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Miss  Tamson  D.  Eldridge ;  Presi- 
dent, Miss  Mary  E.  Smith. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  HARWICH,  MASS. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  on  Cape 
Cod.  Jesse  Lee,  of  historic  fame,  preached  the  first  Methodist  ::ermon 
in  Harwich,  some  time  before  any  regular  services  were  held.  A  local 

preacher  from  down  the  Cape, 
by  the  name  of  Kenne, 
preached  some  here  previous 
to  1797,  when  John  Broad- 
head  came  and  formed  a  class. 
The  Lord  blessed  his  labors  to 
the  good  of  the  people  and 
many,  it  is  said,  were  con- 
verted to  God.  The  first 
meeting-house  was  built  in 
1799.  The  prosperity  of  the 
society  was  such  that  in  twelve 
EAST  HARWICH  CHURCH.  years  from  the  above  date  it 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  ^7 

was  found  that  their  place  of  worship  was  too  small,  and  the 
large  and  spacious  one  now  in  use  was  built.  It  was  dedicated  Janu- 
ary I,  1812,  the  sermon  on  this  occasion  being  preached  by  Benjamin 
F.  Lombard.  In  1848  the  building  was  remodeled  and  repaired. 
After  these  improvements  were  completed,  the  church  was  rededi- 
cated,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  Robert  M.  Hatfield,then 
stationed  at  Sandwich.  1111849  the  church  was  blessed  with  an  exten- 
sive revival,  under  the  faithful  labors  of  the  Rev.  Pardon  T.  Kenney. 

The  first  Sabbath  school  is  said  to  have  been  organized  in  h^ 
year  1845.  For  about  twenty-five  years  the  Sabbath  school  began  in 
May  and  closed  in  the  fall. 

In  its  early  history,  the  society  was  served  by  some  of  the  most 
earnest  workers  in  the  Conference,  whose  labors  resulted  in  adding  to 
the  membership  of  the  church  many  who  for  years  were  faithful 
to  the  cause  of  Christ  and  His  church.  Nearly  all  the  old  members 
have  entered  the  heavenly  home;  but  others  have  come  up  to  at  least, 
in  part,  keep  the  work  moving  here.  Owing  to  removals  and  losses  in 
other  ways,  the  congregation,  membership  and  Sunday  school  are 
not  large;  yet  regular  services  are  maintained.  For  some  years  past 
it  has  been  connected  with  South  Harwich;  this  has  proved  a  helpful 
union. 

In  April,  1896,  some  special  services  were  held,  and  a  number 
sought  and  found  the  Lord,  most  of  whom  have  united  with  the 
church,  increasing  the  number  of  members,  and  making  the  prospect 
for  the  future  brighter. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Cyrenus  Eldridge,  Timothy  K.  Sterns,  Frederick  W. 
Nickerson,  Hem  an  F.  Chase,  Lorenzo.  D.  Buck,  Sparrow  M.  Young. 

Stewards — Cyrenus  Eldridge,  Timothy  K.  Sterns,  Frederick  W. 
Nickerson,  Heman  F.  Chase,  Lorenzo  D.  Buck,  Sparrow  M.  Young, 
Mrs.  Etta  M.  Chase,  Sears  L.  Moore. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Timothy  K.  Sterns. 


PASTORS  SERVING  AS  EVANGELISTS. 

REV.  EDWIN  F.  JONES  began  his  ministry  in  1862  in  the  New 
York  East  Conference  at  Georgetown,  Conn.  In  1871  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  this  Conference,  and  was  stationed  at  North  Dighton.  Here 
he  organized  the  famous  "praying  band"  that  became  a  strong  evan- 
gelistic force.  At  Thames  St.  Church,  Newport,  he  built  the  present 
chapel  there.  At  Grace  Church,  Taunton,  there  were  extensive  im- 
provements during  his  pastorate.  But  his  chief  power  has  been  along 
spiritual  lines.  Blessed  revivals  have  taken  place  in  nearly  all  his 
pastorates.  He  is  a  very  faithful  pastor.  As  a  preacher  he  is  earnest 
and  spiritual.  As  an  evangelist  he  seldom  fails.  He  is  resourceful. 
His  rule  as  a  pastor  has  been  never  to  stay  longer  than  two  years  at 
a  place.  Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  D.  A.  Jordan,  M.  J.  Talbot,  Ensign 
McChesney,  D.  A.  Whedon  and  others  commend  him  as  an  evangelist 
to  our  churches. 


REV.  EDWIN  F.  JONES. 


REV.  JAMES  TREGASKIS. 


REV.  JAMES  TREGASKIS  began  preaching  in  1870  at  Bur- 
lington, N.  Y.  (N.  Y.  E.  Conf.).  His  first  work  in  this  Conference 
was  at  Jewett  City  in  1874,  where  a  mighty  revival  took  place,  and  as 
a  result  he  organized  and  built  the  church  there.  Material  improve- 
ments at  Putnam,  Somerset  and  Thompsonville  were  the  results  of 
his  energetic  labors.  At  the  last  named  charge  $300  were  spent  in 
improvements  and  $500  in  debts  cancelled.  Also  the  general  finan- 
cial and  spiritual  condition  of  the  church  was  excellent.  Special 
work  in  revivals  at  Uncasville  and  Manchester  was  very  successful. 
In  fact,  blessed  revivals  and  spiritual  awakening  of  churches  have 
taken  place  at  almost  every  charge.  His  sweet  spirit,  together  with 
the  help  of  his  consecrated  wife,  have  made  his  ministry  a  very  help- 
ful, harmonious  and  successful  one.  While  pastor  at  Summerfield 
Church,  Fall  River,  there  were  additions  to  the  church  at  almost 
every  communion.  When  there  he  published  a  paper  of  local  interest 
to  Fall  River  Methodists,  entitled  'The  Methodist." 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  MIDDLEBORO,  MASS. 

The  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  South  Micldle- 
boro  begins  during  the  year  1868.  The  first  class  was  formed  April  10, 
with  S.  D.  Wilber  as  leader,  a  position  he  faithfully  rilled  for  many 


Rev.  J.  G.  Gammons  was  the  organizer.  Previous  to  the  organ- 
ization into  a  Methodist- 
Episcopal  church,  the 
church  here  was  a  Re- 
formed Methodist.  Near- 
ly all  the  members  of 
this  body  became  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church. 
The  church  building  and 
parsonage  and  land  be- 
longing to  the  Reformed 
Methodist  Church  and 
Society  have  always  been 
occupied  and  used  for 
the  benefit  of  the  M.  E. 
SOUTH  MIDDLEBORO  CHURCH.  Church,  although  the 

property  is  not  deeded  in 
regular  form  to  our  church. 

Back  of  the  Reformed  Methodist  Church  was  a  Baptist  Church, 
of  which  we  know  almost  nothing. 

Miss   Mary  Ann  Thomas  says  of  the  old   Reformed  Methodist 
Church:  "I  was  born  April  n,  1820.     I  saw  my  father  and  my  eldest 
sister  baptized  by  Rev.  Pliny  Brett,  when  I  was  not  more  than  seven 
years  old.     Elder  Brett  was  a 
Reformed  Methodist  minister, 
who  lived  in  Pocasset,  Mass., 
and   came    to    South    Middle- 
boro,    where    he    "did    much 
work." 

"Elder  Brett  had  done  his 
work  and  gone  before  1830." 
Rev.  Uriah  Miner  came  in 
1830,  and  remained  until 
the  latter  part  of  1835. 
His  successor  is  not  known. 
"The  Reverend  Elijah  Bailey 
was  about  here  in  those  SOUTH  MIDDLEBORO  PARSONAGE. 


]yo 


SOn-'ENIR  HISTORY. 


days  of  Reformed  Methodism."  Mention  is  also  made  of  three 
Johnson  brothers.  Lorenzo  D.  Johnson's  work  resulted  in  a  revival. 
He  married  a  Miss  Mary  Burgess  of  the  neighboring  town  of  Roches- 


REV.    C.    N.    HINCKLEY. 


MRS.   EMMA  GAMMONS. 
Recording  Steward. 


ter,  Mass.     Afterwards  he  joined  the  N.  E.  S.  Conference,  and  died  at 
Pocasset,  where  he  was  stationed. 

Rev.  Theophilus  Brown  came  to  South  Middleboro  in  1841  and 


A.  c.  WILBER. 

Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


JAMES   B.    TRIPP. 
Epworth    League   President. 


re-organized  the  Reformed  Methodist   Church  in  1842.     Mrs.  Thomas 
and  her  father  and  sister  joined  it  in  June  of  that  year,  and  she  alone 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  Ig1 

remains  to-day  of  all  who  were  members  at  that  time,  having  been  a 
member  of  that  church  and  its  successor  for  fifty-five  years. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
special  mention  is  made  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Philip  Crandon.  In 
1874  the  church  was  re-modeled,  and  a  vestry  added.  Deep  spiritual 
interest  was  also  aroused.  Rev.  Thomas  Harrison  came  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  pastor.  "An  unusual  revival  swept  throughout  the  com- 
munity," and  some  of  the  fruit  still  remains.  But  during  the  revival 
Mr.  Crandon  was  taken  sick  and  died,  a  martyr  to-  his  zeal  for  the 
salvation  of  the  people.  Honorable  mention  is  also  made  of  Rev. 
Isaac  Sherman  and  Rev.  E.  A.  Hunt.  Rev.  Mr.  Hunt  served  the 
church  five  years.  He  organized  the  Hunt  Chapter  of  the  Epworth 
League,  and  superintended  extensive  repairs  on  the  inside  of  the 
church.  Also  graded  the  lawn  and  formed  an  association  known  as 
the  "Cemetery  Association,"  greatly  to  the  improvement  of  the 
cemetery. 

PASTORS. 

1868.  J.  G.   Gammons  1882-84.  S.  P.  Snow 

1869.  Isaac  B.  Forbes  1885.  J.  Livesey 
1870-72.  Benjamin  L.  Sayer  1886-90.  E.  A.  Hunt 
1873.  John  W.  Price  1891-92.  J.  A.  Wood 
1874-75.  Philip  Crandon  J893-95.  J-  S.  Thomas 
1876-77.  Charles  Stokes  1896.  C.  A.  Purdy 
1878-80.  Isaac  Sherman  l&97 —  C.  N.  Hinckley 
1881.  O.  R.  Higgins 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

On  the  Board  of  Stewards  are  the  names  of  Abiel  Fuller  and 
Nathaniel  Shurtleff,  one  93,  and  the  other  85.  Other  names  are 
S.  D.  Wilber,  H.  K.  Ryder,  E.  H.  Gammons,  A.  C.  Wilber,  A.  E. 
Thomas,  J.  B.  Tripp,  Lucy  Le  Baron  and  Emma  J.  Gammons 
(R.  S.).  Mrs.  Gammons  has  been  R.  S.  for  ten  years,  Assistant 
Superintendent  of  Sunday  school  eight  years,  President  of  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  and  W.  C.  T.  U. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  A.  C.  Wilber;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, A.  E.  Thomas;  Treasurer,  J.  B.  Tripp;  Secretary,  A.  E. 
Thomas;  Librarian,  Charles  Gammons;  Organist,  Annie  Gammons. 

Epworth  League — President,  James  B.  Tripp;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Henry  W.  Ryder;  Second  Vice-President,  Carrie  Shaw;  Third 
Vice-President,  Florence  Thomas;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Jennie  M. 
Gammons:  Secretary,  Viretta  F.  Shaw;  Treasurer,  E.  H.  Gammons. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  SOMERSET,  MASS. 

Upon  an  eminence  which  overlooks  Fall  River,  a  city  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  inhabitants,  and  the  largest  cotton  manufacturing  cen- 
tre on  this  continent,  the  beautiful  Mount  Hope  Bay,  and  the  pictur- 
esque Taunton  Great  River,  the  parsonage  and  present  house  of  wor- 
ship of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  of  Somerset  stand. 

This  society  has  an  illustrious  history.     The  present  century  had 

hardly  dawned  when 
that  pioneer  of  Metho- 
dism, Rev.  Joseph  Snell- 
ing,  at  that  time  sta- 
tioned on  the  Warren 
circuit,  formed  a  class  of 
seven  members  at  the 
home  of  Nathaniel  Lew- 
in  in  Swansea.  A  little 
later,  upon  invitation  of 
Mr.  John  Wilbur,  one 


of  its  members,  Mr. 
Snelling  conducted  re- 
ligious services  at 
his  house  in  South 
Somerset.  This  was 

the  beginning  of  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  according  to  Meth- 
odism in  this  place.  And  until  a  church  was  built,  meetings  were 
regularly  held  at  Mr.  Wilbur's  house,  which  was  always  freely  opened 
to  all  Methodists. 

The  soil  proved  so  fruitful  that  in  March,  1802,  a  society  was  per- 
manently organized.  Captain  James  Sherman,  afterwards  licensed  a 
local  preacher,  Nathan  Lewin, 
Diana  Lewin,  Sarah  Lewin, 
Gardner  and  Israel  Anthony 
were  its  original  members. 
The  first  person  added  to  this 
newly  organized  church  was 
Mr.  John  Brayton,  a  man 
whose  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  were  such  as  to  well 
merit  another's  characteriza- 
tion as  "one  of  the  most  use- 
ful and  influential  members  of 
the  little  flock.  SOUTH  SOMERSET  PARSONAGE. 


SOUTH  SOMERSET  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


193 


During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Alexander  M.  Lane  on  Bristol  Cir- 
cuit in  1804,  and  through  the  liberality  of  Captain  William  Read,  who. 
gave  the  land,  Mr.  Brayton,Dr.Winslow  of  Swansea  and  other  friends,, 
a  church  was  built  on  the  site  occupied  by  the  present  edifice.  This 
was  the  second  Methodist  church  built  in  Bristol  county. 

In  1805  Somerset  for  the  first  time  is  reported  in  the  minutes. 
The  total  membership,  including  Bristol  and  Warren,  with  which  it 
was  connected,  is  given  as  125.  At  various  times  in  its  early  history 
this  society  was  also  associated  with  Newport,  Providence,  Greenwich,, 
and  a  little  later  Mansfield  and  Dighton. 

One  of  the  original  members   of  this   church,   Israel  Anthony, 


REV.    E.    W.    ELDRIDGE. 


MRS.    E.    W.    ELDRIDGE. 


moved  with  his  family  to  North  Dighton  in  1814.  Through  his  in- 
fluence a  Methodist  church  was  soon  after  formed  at  that  place.  In 
1825  Rev.  Heman  Perry,  stationed  at  Somerset,  instituted  regular 
preaching  services  and  organized  a  class  in  Fall  River.  While  Rev. 
George  Carpenter  was  pastor  in  1841  sixty-nine  were  converted  in  n 
revival  at  Somerset  Village,  forty  of  whom  were  formed  into  a  class 
which  subsequently  became  the  Second  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Thus  from  the  loins  of  this  society  the  Methodist  Episcopal  churches 
on  both  sides  of  Taunton  river  from  its  mouth  to  its  source  sprang. 

Among  the  many  notable  pioneer  ministers  of  Methodism  who 
have  preached  in  the  old  church  are  Lorenzo  Dow,  Freeborn  Garrett- 
son  and  Bishop  Francis  Asbury. 

Rev.  Edward  B.  Hinckley  was  appointed  to  this  church  in  1849. 
That  year  a  new,  more  modern  and  convenient  house  of  worship  was 
built  in  place  of  the  old  one.  Rev.  Daniel  Wise  of  Fall  River  preached 
the  dedicatory  sermon. 


194 


SOL'l'ENIR  HISTORY. 


Land  adjoining  the  lot  on  which  the  church  was  situated  was 
bought  for  a  merely  nominal  sum  in  1860.  A  pleasant  and  commo- 
dious parsonage  was  built  thereon,  Rev.  Joseph  Baker,  the  pastor, 
aiding  materially  in  the  work. 

The  church  was  altered  and  improved  at  an  outlay  of  over  one 
thousand  dollars  in  1870;  Rev.  Edwin  L.  Hyde,  pastor.  Rededication 
services  were  held  Nov.  2.  The  next  day  lightning  struck  the  church, 
necessitating  an  outlay  of  over  five  hundred  dollars  to  repair  damages. 
In  March,  1889,  this  church  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire.  Under 
the  leadership  of  Rev.  John  A.  Rood  this  undaunted  and  heroic  people 
determined  to  rebuild,  and  on  December  5  of  the  same  year  the  present 


CHARLES   W.    ANTHONY, 
Secretary  Board  of  Trustees. 


A.   W.   WEAVER, 
Epworth   League  President. 


beautiful  and  convenient  house  of  worship  was  dedicated.  The  dedi- 
cation of  this  church  free  of  debt  was  made  possible  to  this  society, 
after  their  own  self-sacrificing  efforts,  through  the  generous  gifts  of 
children  of  Mrs.  Israel  Brayton,  who  was  in  her  life  a  member  of  this 
church,  a  kind-hearted,  thoughtful,  hospitable  and  most  generous 
woman. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Louis  M.  Flocken  an  Epworth 
League  was  organized.  Mr.  A.  W.  Weaver,  its  president,  is  a  young 
man,  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  town,  full  of  energy,  ever 
alert  to  the  interests  of  the  church,  and  a  loyal  helper  in  all  its  under- 
takings. 

In  the  earlier  records  of  this  church  one  finds  the  name  of  Job 
Gardner,  a  loyal  Methodist  and  staunch  supporter  of  the  church.  His 
son,  the  Hon.  Job  Gardner,  has  served  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day School  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  and  though  over  70  years  of 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


age  is  so  fertile  in  plans  and  up-to-date  in  methods  as  to  give  evidence 
that  he  is  far  from  crossing  the  dead  line. 

Great  credit  is  due  Mr.  William  G.  Pearse,  senior  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  W.  G.   Pearse  &  Co.,  Agricultural  Implements, 


WILLIAM   G.   PEARSE, 
Recording    Secretary   Board    of   Trustes. 


HON.    DANIEL   WILBUR, 
President  Board  of  Trustees. 


Seeds,  Hardware,  etc.,  of  Fall  River.  Mr.  Pearse  joined  this  church 
in  1886,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  I.  Ward.  Into  his  religious 
life  he  puts  the  same  intelligence  and  force  as  that  with  wrhich  his  busi- 


HON.   DANIEL  WILBUR  (deceased). 
Former  President  Board   of  Trustees. 


GEORGE  REED  (deceased). 


ness  was  builded.  As  Recording  Steward  and  Treasurer  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  he  aids  by  his  wise  counsels  and  generous  gifts  in  the 
management  of  the  finances  as  well  as  the  other  interests  of  the  church. 


196 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  June,  1896,  this  society  met  with  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  the 
Hon.  Daniel  Wilbur,  for  thirty  years  president  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. His  decease  was  followed  by  that  of  his  wife  six  weeks  later. 
Both  were  generous  helpers  in  the  church.  Mr.  Wilbur's  son,  Daniel 
Wilbur,  Jr.,  a  man  of  high  esteem  throughout  the  community,  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  Presidency  of  the  Board. 

Tn  February,  1897,  Mr.  George  Read,  for  upwards  of  thirty  years 

a  staunch  supporter  and  generous 
giver  to  the  church  of  which  he  was 
a  member,  passed  on  to  his  reward 
above.  He  was  for  many  years  Sec- 
retary of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  His 
father  was  Captain  William  Read, 
one  of  the  early  promoters  of  this 
society. 

Mr.    Charles    W.    Anthony,    whose 
ancestors    were    connected    with    this 
church,     himself    a    lifelong    Metho- 
dist,  generous,   consecrated  and  true, 
is  the  present  Secretary  of  the  Board. 
Besides  the  Sunday  School  and  Ep- 
worth  League,  there  is  a  Ladies'  Aid 
Society,  which  has  rendered  material 
help  in  times  past.     Miss  Rhoda  Dur- 
ifee  is  the  President. 

In  April,  1897,  through  the  generosity  of  the  Hon.  John  Sum- 
merfield  Brayton,  LL.  D.,  of  Fall  River,  grandson  of  Mr.  John  Bray- 
ton,  one  of  the  founders  of  this  church,  a  carefully  selected  library  of 
over  one  hundred  and  fifty  volumes  of  recent  and  valuable  Biblical 
•and  Theological  works  was  placed  in  the  parsonage  for  the  use  of  the 
pastors.  These  works  were  written  by  eminent  authorities,  and  must 
t>e  of  great  value  for  years  to  come. 

Many  other  names  worthy  of  special  mention  are  found  connected 
with  the  history  of  this  church.  But  in  the  efforts  to  condense  nearly 
•one  hundred  years  of  remarkable  church  history  into  space  allowed  by 
publishers  many  things  and  persons  must  necessarily  be  omitted. 

The  religious  life  of  this  church  is  characterized  not  by  noisy 
•demonstrations,  but  by  cheerful  loyalty  to  the  highest  convictions  of 
truth  and  duty,  thoughtful  and  conscientious  study  of  the  right  and 
steadfast  following  it.  Throughout  its  long  history  its  present  mem- 
bers are  confident  that  God  has  lead  this  people,  and  with  the  heroic 
and  self-sacrificing  spirit  which  animated  their  fathers  they  still  plan 
for  and  expect  great  things  of  God.  Within  a  year  past  over  $200  has 


HON.  JOB  GARDNER. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


197 


been  expended  in  parsonage  furnishings  and  improvements.  During 
the  present  pastorate  accessions  have  been  reported  by  probation  or 
letter  at  nearly  every  Quarterly  Conference.  The  church  property  is 
entirely  free  from  debt.  Encouraged  by  the  past,  strong  in  the  pres- 
ent consciousness  of  the  Divine  Presence,  this  "church  on  the  hill" 
looks  hopefully  toward  the  future  determining  to  be  a  beacon  light, 
strong  and  clear,  to  souls  journeying  in  the  path  of  God. 


1800. 
1801. 

1802. 


1803-4. 

1805-6. 

1807. 

1808-9. 

1810. 

1811. 

1812-13. 

1814. 

1815. 

1816. 
1817. 
1818. 

1819, 

1820-21. 

1822-23. 

1824. 

1825. 

1826. 

1827-28. 
1829. 

1830. 

1831. 

1832. 

3833- 


PASTORS. 

Joseph  Snelling  1834-35. 

John     Finnegan      and  1836-37. 

Daniel  Fiddler 

Reuben  Hubbard,  Caleb  1838. 

Morris,       Alexander 

Cobb  !839. 

Alexander  McLane  1840. 

Joseph  Snelling  1841. 

Joshua  Crowell  1842. 

Levi  Walker  :843- 

John  Lindsey  1S44- 

Thomas  Asbury  i&45- 

Artemas  Stebbins  1846. 

Edward       Hyde       and  1847. 

William  Marsh  1848. 

Benjamin  R.  Hoyt  and  1849. 

J.  Walker  1850. 

Richard  Emery  1851-52. 

Nathan  Paine  1853-54. 

Isaac  Jennison  and  E.  1855. 

Streeter  1856. 

Isaac  Bonney  1857-58. 

Thomas  W.  Tucker  1859. 

Benjamin  Hazleton  1 860-61. 

Ebenezer  Blake  1862-64. 

Heman  Perry  1865-67. 

Charles  Virgin  and  N.  1868-70. 

B.  Spaulding  1871-72. 

David  Culver  J873-75. 

N.    S.    Spaulding    and  1876-77. 

Robert  Gould  1878. 

Nathan  Paine    and    H.  1879-81. 

Walker  1882-84. 

F.  Dane  and  H.  Wai-  1885. 

den  1886-89. 

Warren    Emerson    and  1890-91. 

J.  B.  Baldwin  1892-95. 

James   Bicknell  1896 — 


None 

Isaac  Bonney  and  Le- 

Roy  Sunderland 
S.      W.      Wilson      and 

Wareham  Campbell 
J.  T.  Sturtevant 
William  B.  Simmons 
George  Carpenter 
Levi  Daggett,  Jr 
Ezekiel  W.  Stickney 
Micah  J.  Talbot 
Benjamin  L.  Sayer 
John  W.  Case 
John  E.  Gifford 

Edward  B.  Hinckley 
James  M.  Worcester 
Lawton  Cady 
Ormando  N.  Brooks 
J.  N.  Collier 
John  Livesey 
Varnum  A.  Cooper 
C.  Collard  Adams 
Joseph  Baker 
Henry  H.  Smith 
William  Penn  Hyde 
Edward  L.  Hyde 
C.  S.  Morse 
George  H.  Lamson 
George  W.  Wright 
S.  Hamilton  Day 
E.  Tirrell 
John  Livesey 
William  I.  Ward 
John  A.  Rood 
Orville  A.  Farley 
Louis  M.  Flocken 
Ernest  W.  Eldridge 


1 98 


SOLTENIR  HISTORY. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Daniel  Wilbur,  President;  W.  G.  Pearse,  Treasurer - 
C.  W.  Anthony,  Secretary ;  Job  Gardner,  A.  W.  Weaver,  Thomas  H. 
Stevens,  John  L.  Slade,  Elisha  M.  Keen,  George  Marvel. 

Stewards— W.  G.  Pearse,  R.  S.;  Job  Gardner,  D.  S.;  A.  W. 
Weaver,  C.  W.  Anthony,  F.  J.  Arnold,  John  McKean,  Jane  G.  Read, 
Marietta  S.  Gardner,  Lizzie  M.  Pearse,  Ella  Bosworth,  Lura  R.  P. 
Weaver,  Carrie  A.  Bush,  Rhoda  M.  Durfee. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Job  Gardner;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, A.  W.  Weaver;  Secretary,  Emma  Read;  Treasurer,  Fred 
Clarner;  Librarian,  A.  W.  Weaver;  Assistant,  Mrs.  A.  W.  W'eaver; 
Organist,  Alice  Bosworth. 

Epu'orth  League — President,  A.  W.  Weaver;  Vice-Presidents,  Mrs. 
A.  W.  Weaver,  Amelia  G.  Read,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Eldridge,  Mary  Astle; 
Secretary,  Mary  E.  Anthony;  Treasurer,  Emma  Read. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  TRURO,  MASS. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  founding  of  the  church  in  South  Truro 
to  be  found  at  the  present  time.  .  The  date  assigned  is  a  matter  of 
inference.  From  reliable  sources  it  is  safe  to  sav  that  the  church  was 


SOUTH  TRURO  CHURCH. 

built  and  the  first  society  organized  not  later  than  1794.  It  is  prob- 
able that  the  intention  was  to  build  the  first  meeting-house  in  Prov- 
incetown,  but  the  movement  met  such  violent  hostility,  that  those 
interested  decided  to  build  in  Truro  for  the  mutual  accommodation  of 
Provincetown,  Truro  and  Wellfleet. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


199 


The  statement  that  the  church  in  South  Truro  was  the  second 
Methodist  church  built  in  New  England  is  well  established. 

Jesse  Rich,  the  great  grandfather  of  Thomas  Rich  and  Miss  Han- 
nah Cobb,  now  members  of  the  church,  gave  a  site  of  half  an  acre  of 
land  for  this  meeting-house,  which  was  made  of  rough  lumber  and  un- 
plastered. 

The  pews  were  benches  made  of  planks.  It  is  said  for  years,  the 
swallows  flew  in  and  out  at  pleasure,  and  building  their  nests  upon  the 
rough  beams,  fed  their  young  during  Divine  service. 

For  some  reason  unknown  to  the  residents  of  the  parish  now,  the 
members  of  this  first  society  decided  to  build  farther  north,  and  the 
church  at  the  Centre  was  built  in  1827.  But  it  never  was  their  vine 
and  fig-tree;  and  feeling  that  they  did  not  have  their  rights,  the  people 


SOUTH    TRURO    CHURCH    AND    PARSONAGE. 

at  the  .South  became  dissatisfied.  In  one  of  the  meetings,  the  relation 
became  so  strained  that  the  meeting  broke  up  in  great  disorder. 

Before  another  quarterly  meeting  Elisha  Newcombe,  Freeman 
Cobb,  Nehemiah  Rich,  Sears  Rich  and  others  met  in  the  house  of 
Elisha  Newcombe  and  organized  "The  Second  Methodist  Society  in 
Truro,"  August  29th,  1829. 

Instead  of  returning  to  the  first  meeting-house  erected,  they  built 
a  new  building,  33x44  feet,  with  galleries  on  three  sides,  and  dedicated 
it  December  15,  1831,  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Lombard,  P.  E.,  preaching 
the  sermon. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Keith  was  very  active,  and  aided  by  his  influence 
the  completion  of  the  work.  When  ill  health  compelled  him  to  locate, 
he  made  Truro  his  home,  and  a  marble  slab  marks  his  resting  place 
in  the  cemetery,  perhaps  on  the  very  site  of  the  original  meeting- 
house. 


2OO 


SOUr  EN  I R  HISTORY. 


HANNAH  S.  COBB, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


"In  1851,  when  the  town  was  at  the  height  of  prosperity,  the 
society  had  outgrown  their  house  of  1831,  and  the  present  graceful 
and  attractive  building,  most  eligibly  situated  westward  of  the  old  site, 
was  built." 

It  stands  on  one  of  the  sand  hills  which  Hector,  the  last  slave  sold 

in  Truro,  knew  so  well  through  his 
long,  lonely  and  unloved  life,  which 
began  a  century  and  a  quarter  before 
the  foundations  of  the  church  were 
laid.  He  is  said,  as  he  walked  or 
drove  to  the  fields,  to  have  prayed 
audibly  and  realized  in  the  simplicity 
of  his  faith  that  there  is  a  "daysman." 
Methodism  came  to  Truro,  bearing 
record  of  the  Word  of  God  and  of  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  proclaim 
that  there  is  a  "daysman  betwixt  us," 
and  liberty  to  hundreds  of  captives. 
The  society  now  is  only  a  rapidly 
retreating  "shadow  of  its  former  self." 
It  is  pathetic  beyond  description 
to  count  on  the  records  only  twenty- 
eight  members,  thirteen  of  whom  are  non-residents,  to  stand  in  the  old 
pulpit,  and  to  look  at  the  walls  and  ceilings  which  in  former  days 
have  echoed  the  prayers  and  praises  of  God's  children,  as  they  gath- 
ered in  crowds,  but  which  now  are  broken  and  fallen,  unable  to  stand 
longer  the  winds  that  have  strained  their  timbers  for  nearly  half  a 
century. 

The  noble  sons  and  daughters  of  a  King  within  the  bounds  of  the 
parish  have  long  since  gone  to  other  fields  to  seek  their  fortunes,  or 
one  after  another,  have  laid  down  their  oars  to  step  upon  the  banks 
of  the  great  river  in  their  Heavenly  home. 

PASTORS. 

During  the  period  of  1794-1810  Truro  was  a  circuit  appointment. 
There  is  no  mention  of  Truro  in  the  General  Minutes  until  1811. 

From  the  life  of  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling,  written  by  himself,  it  is 
evident  that  he  labored  in  Truro  as  an  exhorter  in  1795  and  as 
preacher  in  1796. 

1811.  Joseph  A.  Merrill  1827-28.     The  people  worshipped 

1812.  Robert  Arnold  in  the  new  church  at 
1813-26.     During  this  period  also                          the  Centre. 

there  is  no   mention    1829-30.     A.  Holway 

of  Truro  in  the  min-    1831-32.     Benjamin  Keith 

utes.  1833-34.     Joseph  B.  Brown 


SO  Ul  'ENIR  HIS  TOR  Y. 


20 1 


1835-38.     Thomas  Dodge  1858-59. 

1839-40.     Joel  Steele  1860. 

1841.          James  Bicknell  1861. 

1842-43.     Henry  H.  Smith  1862-63. 

1844-45.     Lozien  Pierce  1864-65. 

1846-47.     William  Leonard  1866. 

1848-49.     Adin  H.  "Newton  1867-69. 

1850.  Ira  M.  Bidwell  was  ap-  1870. 

pointed,  but  meeting  1871. 

with  an  accident  on  1872-73. 

the  cars,  he  was  un-  1874-75. 

able  to  take  the  work  1876-78. 

and  Adin  H.  Newton  1879. 

supplied  1880-82. 

1851.  Anthony  Palmer  1883-85. 
1852-53.     William  Kellen  1886-88. 
1854-55.     William  Leonard  1889. 
1856-57.     F.  A.  Loomis  1890-94. 


Josiah  C.  Allen 
A.  Latham 
Seth  B.  Chase 
George  S.  Alexander 
E.  M.  Anthony 
L.  W.  Bowdish 
Benjamin  L.  Sayer 
S.  F.  Whidden 
W.  T.  Miller 
George  S.  Macomber 
George  H.  Butler 
V.  W.  Mattoon 
C.  N.  Hinckley 
J.  S.  Fish 
Charles  T.  Hatch 
John  O.  Adams 
J.  S.  Bell 
John  S.  Fish 


Mr.  Fish  remained  on  this  charge  until  November  4,  1894,  "When 
on  the  morn  of  that  Sabbath  he  left  the  lower  sanctuary  where  he  had 
so  many  years  officiated,  and  entered  upon  the  eternal  Sabbath  and 
"bowed  lowly  in  the  upper  sanctuary  before  Him  who  sitteth  on  the 
.great  white  throne. 

1894-95.     Jason  F.  Thurston  sup-    1896.          W.  D.  Wilkinson 
plied  six  months.  ^97 —        F.  L.  Brooks 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Thomas  S.  Rich,  Joseph  S.  Cole,  Jessie  A.  Cobb,  Silas 
Ryder,  Jessie  A.  Rich,  Mary  Stocker. 

Stezvards — Thomas  S.  Rich,  Joseph  S.  Cole,  Jessie  Rich,  Mercy 
Cobb,  Hannah  S.  Cobb,  Marietta  G.  Rich,  Mary  E.  Stocker. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Han- 
nah S.  Cobb:  Librarian,  Mercy  S.  Cobb. 

Teachers — Thomas  S.  Rich,  Marietta  G.  Rich. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  YARMOUTH,  MASS. 

The  old  church  formerly  stood  southeast  of  the  village  near  the 
Silas  Baker  homestead.  Little  is  known  of  its  history.  Of  a  number  of 
pastors  Rev.  Lewis  B.  Bates,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  G.  W.  Stearns,  D.  D., 
are  most  widely  known.  The  church  now  standing  in  the  centre  of 
the  village  was  erected  in  1852. 

The  pastorates  most  memorable  for  revivals  are  those  of   Rev. 


SOUTH    YARMOUTH   CHURCH. 


Henry  Aston,  Rev.  C.  Hammond  and  Rev.  W.  L.  Phillips.  During 
Mr.  Hammond's  ministry  the  present  parsonage  was  purchased. 
"Taylor  Chapel,"  the  gift  of  Mr.  Elisha  Taylor,  was  built  in  1884. 

PASTORS. 


1853- 
1855. 
1856. 

1857- 

1858. 

1859. 

1 860-6 1. 

1862-63. 

1864. 

1865-67. 

1868. 

1869-70. 

1871. 

1874-76. 


Henry  Aston 
James  M.  Worcester 
Lemuel  Harlow 
Edward  B.  Hinckley 
William  E.  Sheldon 
Lawton  Cady 

B.  L.  Sayer' 
F.  A.   Loomis 
Joseph  Gurney 

C.  Hammond 
L.  Bowdish 

W.  F.   Farrington 

S.     F.     Whidden     and 

W.  F.  Whitcher 
W.  L.  Phillips 


1877.  W.  F.  Steele 

1878.  G.  E.  Fuller 
1879-80.  A.  McCord 
1881-83.  E.  Williams 
1883-84.  G.  W.  Wright 

1885.  S.    H.    Day   and   J.    H. 

George 

1886.  W.  P.  Arbuckle 

1887.  W.  E.  Kugler 
1888-89.  G.  E.  Dunbar 
1890-91.  S.  K.  Arbuthnot 

1892.  W.  D.  Wilkinson 

1893.  E.  E.  Marshall 
1894-95.  E.  W.  Elclridge 
1896 —  G.  W.  Tupper 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — G.  H.  Loring,  Lothrop  Baker,  J.  F.  Sears,  J.  Crowell, 
F.  A.  Crowell,  R.  K.  Farris,  M.  H.  Crowell,  Allen  Farris,  E.  T.  Baker. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


203 


Stewards — J.  Crowell,  M.  H.  Crowell,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Loring,  Mrs. 
E.  T.  Baker,  Mrs.  L.  Fuller,  Mrs.  M.  Smith,  Mrs.  A.  Sears,  Mrs.  A. 
Kelley,  Mrs.  Seth  Kelley,  Mrs.  Annie  Hath  way,  Miss  P.  L.  Kelley. 

Class  Leader — Joseph  Crowell. 

Organist — Mrs.  A.  C.  White. 

Sexton — G.   H.   Loring. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Pastor;  Assistant  Superintendent, 
Mrs.  Ezra  D.  Kelley;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Lottie  Kelley; 
Librarian,  Miss  Melva  Wood. 

Teachers — Captain  G.  H.  Loring,  Captain  L.  Baker,  Mrs.  I.  P.  F. 
Farris,  Mrs.  Joseph  Crowell,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Baker,  Mrs.  Seth  Kellev,  Mrs. 
Ezra  D.  Kellev,  Miss  Fannie  Haffords. 


-  ~"  -, 


G.    H.   LORING, 
President  Board  of  Trustees. 


J.   CROWELL, 
Twenty  years  Class  Leader. 


5 


ELISHA   TAYLOR, 
Donator  of  Taylor   Chapel. 


M.    H.    CROWBLL, 
Recording  Secretary. 


TAUNTON  METHODIST  SOCIAL  UNION. 
By  Rev.  C.  A.  Stenhouse. 

Sociability  is  next  in  importance  to  spiritualty  in  the  church.  It 
sometimes  happens,  however,  that  while  sociability  exists  in  the  indi- 
idual  church,  that  church  may  fail  to  be  sociable  with  neighboring 
churches;  so  that  there  may  be  narrowness  even  in  the  sphere  of  socia- 
bility. The  "Union"  solves  this  problem.  Taunton  has  a  flourishing 
union  which  has  done  much  to  create  the  connectional  and  fraternal 
feeling  which  happily  exists  between  the  Methodist  churches  in  the 
city  and  its  vicinity.  At  an  official  meeting  in  Central  Church  during 
the  latter  part  of  1891  a  committee  of  three,  namely,  Ezra  Hamlen, 


J.    F.    MONTGOMERY. 


C.   H.    LINCOLN. 


W.   M.    DUNBAR. 


Andre  S.  Rounds  and  Willis  H.  Waitt,  were  appointed  to  see  what 
could  be  done  about  forming  a  Methodist  Social  Union.  March  28,. 
1892,  that  committee  made  its  report. 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  the  Social  Union  that  an  informal 
meeting  of  representatives  from  all  the  church  and  all  the  Epworth 
League  chapters  of  the  city  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Ezra 
Hamlen,  Somerset  Avenue,  on  the  evening  of  March  19,  1892. 

It  was  resolved,  on  motion  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Kingsley,  then  pastor 
of  Central  Church,  to  recommend  the  forming  of  a  social  union.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution,  etc.,  and  report  at 
another  meeting  in  the  same  place,  March  26,  1892.  That  committee 
was  as  follows:  Ezra  Hamlen  of  the  Central  Church,  M.  A.  Dary  of 
the  First  Church,  J.  E.  Blake  of  Grace  Church  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Bell 
of  Tremont  Street  Church.  The  constitution  was  adopted  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  the  First  Church,  May  2,  1892.  All  the  churches  were 
represented  at  this  meeting,  and  the  organization  was  effected  as 
follows:  President,  Marcus  A.  Dary  (First  Church);  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Amasa  E.  Blake  (Grace);  Second  Vice-President,  Eli  H.  Eld- 


'  SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  205 

ridge  (Central);  Secretary,  Elizabeth  J.  Whiting  (Grace);  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  George  W.  Barrows  (First);  Treasurer,  Walter  M.  Dun- 
bar  (Central);  Directors,  Luther  B.  West,  Mrs.  Cora  Brownell,  Ezra 
Hamlen,  Walter  L.  Park,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Montgomery.  The  first  banquet 
and  accompanying  feast  of  intellectual  things  was  given  in  the  Central 
church  June  20,  1892.  The  Rev.  Charles  Parkhurst,  D.  D.,  editor  of 
Zion's  Herald,  gave  the  address  of  the  evening,  on  "Three  Constituent 
Qualities  of  Methodism."  It  was  an  able  and  comprehensive  view  of 
successful  Methodism  for  which  the  Union  expressed  its  thanks  by  a 
rising  vote. 

Opening  thus  auspiciously,  the  Union  has  enjoyed  every  year  its 
four  meetings  in  February,  May,  September  and  November,  occurring 
in  rotation  in  the  First,  Grace  and  Central  churches.  Its  membership 
has  doubled  and  its  success  in  making  members  of  the  different 
churches  know  each  other  better  has  resulted  in  an  increased  spiritual 
interest  between  them.  Union  meetings  for  religious  awakening  have 
been  suggested  by  the  Union  and  successfully  attempted  by  the 
churches.  During  the  past  summer  two  of  the  churches  held  union 
services  four  Sundays  in  August.  Two  services  were  held  in  each 
church.  This  idea  emanated  from  laymen  who  are  prominent  in  the 
"Union."  The  president  is  elected  annually;  only  one  violation  of 
this  law  has  occurred  and  that  was  in  the  case  of  the  second  one 
elected.  He  did  so  well  in  his  office  that  the  law  was  suspended. 
Hence  there  have  been  four  presidents,  as  follows:  M.  A.  Dary, 
W.  M.  Dunbar,  J.  F.  Montgomery  and  C.  H.  Lincoln.  These  were 
taken  from  First,  Central  and  Grace  churches;  the  fourth  president 
begins  the  rotation  again.  This  is  the  law. 

The  secretaries  have  been  Elizabeth  J.  Whiting  and  Walter  L. 
Park,  each  one  year,  and  the  present  incumbent,  Augusta  M.  West. 

The  invited  speakers  have  been,  besides  members:  Rev.  C.  Park- 
hurst,  D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  N.  Brodbeck,  D.  D.,  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  D.  D.,  Rev.  F.  D.  Blakeslee,  D.D.,  Rev.  C.  H. 
Payne,  D.  D.,  Prof.  H.  G.  Mitchell,  Rev.  C.  M.  Melden,  Rev.  E.  M. 
Taylor,  Rev.  C.  L.  Goodell,  Rev.  T.  J.  Everett  and  Rev.  F.  E.  E. 
Hamilton,  Rev.  J.  D.  Pickles,  Ph.  D.,  Rev.  C.  W.  Holden,  Rev. 
C.  M.  Melden,  Ph.  D.,  Prof.  W.  T.  Mowry. 

The  members  of  the  Union  at  the  close  of  the  June,  1892,  meeting 
were:  Revs.  A.  W.  Kingsley,  G.  W.  King,  E.  F.  Clark,  J.  W.  Willett, 
J.  E.  Blake,  Messrs.  M.  A.  Dary,  W.  H.  Phillips,  E.  H.  Eldridge, 
L.  B.  West,  E.  S.  Young,  W.  M.  Dunbar,  E.  Hamlen,  S.  Miller,  J.  L. 
Merigold,  W.  B.  Ashley,  W.  F.  Bodfish,  A.  Dix,  A.  E.  Blake,  E.  F. 
Morton,  H.  Wood,  C.  F.  Luther,  G.  W.  Barrows,  W.  L.  Park,  G.  T. 
Fisher,  J.  F.  Brownell,  J.  S.  Cummings,  G.  T.  Davis,  C.  H.  Lincoln, 


206  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

J.  F.  Montgomery,  J.  L.  Presbrey,  W.  E.  Walker,  E.  W.  Wilson, 
W.  D.  Richardson,  Mrs.:— W.  H.  Phillips,  T.  W.  Coombs,  E.  H. 
Eldridge.  L.  B.  West,  C.  L.  Chick,  W.  H.  Field,  W.  M.  Dunbar, 
E.  Hamlen,  W.  F.  Bodfish,  J.  F.  Brownell,  G.  W.  Barrows,  J.  S.  Cum- 
mings,  M.  A.  Dary,  G.  T.  Davis,  R.  G.  Ellis,  Rev.  G.  W.  King,  C.  H. 
Lincoln,  S.  Miller,"  J.  F.  Montgomery,  G.  E.  Paull,  W.  L.  Park,  E.  P. 
Staples,  Rev.  J.  W.  Willett,  W.  E.  Walker,  W.  D.  Richardson,  Misses 
M.  L.  Bicknell,  N.  B.  Drew,  M.  E.  Pye,  E.  G.  Parker,  M.  A.  Sprague, 
E.  J.  Whiting. 

The  executive  committee  consists  of  all  the  officers  and  five  direc- 
tors. The  directors  for  1897  are  as  follows:  Miss  Ida  G.  Barrows 
(First),  H.  B.  Buffinton  and  C.  F.  Luther  (Grace),  Miss  Mary  E.  Pye 
and  I.  Alfred  Messenger  (Central).  Two  members,  the  Rev.  J.  W. 
Willett  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Pye,  have  deceased  during  August, 
1897.  Appropriate  resolutions  have  been  published  by  the  Union. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORTH  HARWICH,  MASS. 

The  church  building  was  built  by  William  Ryder,  James  Baker, 
Henry  Kelley,  and  Xathan  Foster,  in  the  year  1842,  for  a  Reformed 
Methodist  Church,  and  in  about  ten  years  it  wras  changed  to  Wesleyan 
Methodist;  then,  in  a  few  years,  to  Methodist-Episcopal  Church. 

There  are  only  two  of  the  first  members  living — Mrs.  Betsey  Bas- 
sett  and  Mrs.  Rhoda  Baker. 

Reform  Methodist  Preachers — Rev.  Moses  H.  Swift,  Rev.  Harry 
Herris,  Rev.  Presbury  Clark  and  Rev.  Nathan  Clark. 

M.  E.  Pastors — Rev.  Moses  Brown,  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon,  Rev.  Mr. 
Pierson,  Rev.  Francis  A.  Loomis,  Mr.  J.  T.  Smalley,  Rev.  Davis 
Lothrop,  Rev.  George  E.  Dunbar,  Rev.  N.  W.  Everett,  Rev.  J.  G. 
Gammons  and  Rev.  J.  T.  Docking. 


CENTRAL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  TAUNTON,  MASS. 

The  history  of  this  church  begins  with  the  year  1852,  when 
social  meetings  were  held  in  Bank  Hall,  corner  of  Cedar  and  Main 
Streets,  by  a  few  members  of  the  First  Church,  Weir  Village,  who 
lived  near  the  centre  of  the  city  called  "The  Green,"  and  who  found 
the  "Weir"  too'  far  away,  and  who  also  thought  very  wisely  that  a 

strategic  point  like  the  Centre 
should  be  seized  for  Methodism. 
Their  judgment  was  soon  vindi- 
cated. After  several  business  meet- 
ings in  the  shop  of  William  Hutch- 
inson,  6  Main  Street,  a  lot  was  pur- 
chased on  Cohannet  Street  and  a 
building  committee  appointed, 
Subscriptions  were  solicited  by 
William  Hutchinson,  chairman  of 
the  committee,  to  whom  the  final 
success  of  the  enterprise  was 
mainly  attributed.  In  the  spring 
of  1853  Rev.  W.  H.  Stetson  be- 
came the  pastor  of  this  church  of 
13  members  by  Conference  ap- 
pointment. Of  the  original  13  only 
one  member  remains  on  the  roll  of 
membership — Mrs.  Mary  B.  King, 
wife  of  Mr.  Job  King,  who  recently 

retired  from  the  Mason  machine  shops,  after  more  than  fifty  years 
service.  On  the  first  Sunday  Mr.  Stetson  organized  a  Sunday  School 
of  fifty  members  in  Templar  Hall,  with  G.  O.  White  as  superin- 
tendent. Early  in  this  year  the  Whittenton  Society  disbanded  and 
its  members  united  with  Central  Church,  increasing  thereby  the  lat- 
ter's  membership  to  thirty.  It  was  still  in  the  spring  of  1853  when 
the  building  of  the  new  church  was  put  under  contract.  The  work 
was  pushed  rapidly,  and  early  in  the  fall  the  vestry  was  occupied. 
The  crowds  that  attended  and  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  both 
attested  that  God  favored  the  undertaking.  Rev.  C.  H.  Titus  was 
appointed  the  next  year,  1854.  The  building  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated in  May,  Rev.  J.  T.  Peck,  D.  D.,  afterwards  Bishop,  preaching 
the  sermon.  Pews  were  sold  to  the  amount  of  $2,200,  leaving  a 
debt  of  $4,000.  The  records  show  that  the  Sunday  School  now  num- 
bered 158.  The  membership  of  the  church  continued  to  increase. 
In  1855  Rev.  H.  C.  Atwater,  the  pastor,  found  sixty-three  members 


CENTRAL  CHURCH,  TAUNTON. 


208 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


and  nineteen  probationers,  and  left  at  the  end  of  the  year  seventy- 
four  members  and  twenty-three  probationers.  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham,  now 
a  professor  in  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  increased  the  membership 
the  following  two  years  to  no  members  and  thirteen  probationers. 


CENTRAL,  CHURCH  PARSONAGE. 


At  this  time  the  Central  had  nearly  reached  the  mother  church  both 
in  point  of  numbers  and  in  ability,  as  the  Conference  minutes  show. 
There  was  a  difference  of  only  one  in  total  membership  and  of  only 
fifty  dollars  in  salary  paid.  The  debt  gradually  decreased,  for  the 


REV.   C.   A.   STENHOUSE. 


MRS.   C.   A.   STENHOUSE. 


pew  rentals  were  used  by  the  trustees  for  its  liquidation.  But  in 
1863,  when  Rev.  Frederick  Upham,  father  of  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham,  be- 
came pastor  here,  he  found  a  debt  of  $2,200,  and  by  an  extraordinary 
effort  reduced  it  to  $600.  By  the  continuous  revivals  and  steady 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


209 


growth  of  the  church  in  membership  under  the  leadership  of  such 
men  as  Revs.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  J.  W.  Willett,  H.  D.  Robinson, 
Alexander  Anderson  and  A.  P.  Palmer,  it  finally  became  necessary  to 


B.  H.  SCUDDER, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


L.    L.    MITCHELL, 
Epworth  League  President. 


enlarge  the  church  edifice,  which  was  done  in  1876  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  O.  H.  Fernald.  The  eastern  end  of  the  building  was 
extended,  vestibules  and  stairways  changed  and  improved  and  an 
organ  alcove  made  at  the  side  of  the  pulpit,  the  whole  being  done  at 


J.   W.    THAYER, 
President  Board   of  Trustees. 


EZRA    HAMLEN, 
Treasurer   Board    of   Trustees. 


an  outlay  of  about  $2,300.  Fifty  persons  were  taken  on  probation. 
Rev.  J.  E.  Hawkins,  the  next  pastor,  saw  quite  an  extensive  revival 
and  left  a  net  increase  in  the  membership  of  fifty-two. 


2IO 


SO L' I 'EN I R  HISTORY. 


In  1 88 1  Rev.  Edward  Edsoii  began  his  work.  He  saw  over 
fifty  conversions,  an  old  debt  of  $700  paid,  and  a  lot  for  a  new  par- 
sonage bought  at  a  cost  of  $1,250  during  his  three  years  of  service. 
The  Rev.  G.  W.  Hunt  was  appointed  pastor  in  1884.  The  church 
prospered.  During  his  three  years  there  were  ninety  additions  to  the 
church,  but  a  necessary  pruning  of  the  rolls  left  a  net  gain  of  only 
sixteen.  A  new  parsonage  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4,300,  including 
the  lot  on  Myrtle  Street.  The  first  lot  was  sold,  having  become  un- 
suitable owing  to  the  erection  of  cotton  sheds  on  the  adjoining  lot. 
A  mortgage  of  $2,600  remained  on  the  parsonage.  The  next  year, 
1885,  improvements  on  the  church  edifice  were  accomplished  at  a 
cost  of  $4,400,  all  of  which  was  provided  for  by  subscriptions.  The 
edifice  was  now  in  splendid  condition,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  about 


A.   J.   DUNBAR.  Local   Preacher. 


A.    S.    ROUNDS. 


600,  and  all  the  requirements  for  church  work.  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster 
preached  the  reopening  sermon,  October  n,  1885,  and  Rev.  Dr.  S.  F. 
Upham  preached  in  the  evening.  Gains  continued;  105  additions 
were  made  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  J.  Smith. 

The  Worcester  Street  Mission,  now  Tremont  Street  (Oakland), 
took  organized  form  with  a  stationed  preacher.  Twenty-eight  mem- 
bers and  seven  probationers  were  dismissed  from  Central  to  unite 
with  it.  In  the  organization  of  Grace  Church  also  several  members 
were  furnished,  so  that  with  all  its  gains,  Central  has  not  reached  in 
net  membership  the  place  its  many  additions  warranted.  Rev.  A.  W. 
Kingsley,  like  eight  of  his  predecessors,  enjoyed  a  three  years'  pas- 
torate, during  which  advances  were  made  in  benevolences  and  in 
pastor's  salary,  and  a  new  piano  was  purchased  by  the  Epworth 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  21  r 

League.  This  church  has  been  noted  during  its  history  for  the  re- 
spect and  deference  paid  its  pastors,  and  the  latter  have  parted  from 
this  cordial  and  harmonious  people  with  regret.  The  present  pastor, 
Rev.  C.  A.  Stenhouse,  appointed  in  April,  1893,  is  closing  the  fifth 
year  in  that  spirit.  The  hard  financial  conditions  throughout  the  coun- 
try have  prevented  any  marked  material  progress,  yet  many  improve- 
ments on  the  church  and  in  the  furnishings  of  the  parsonage  have 
been  made.  The  present  membership  is  267,  with  several  proba- 
tioners. 

PASTORS. 

1853.  W.  H.  Stetson  1867-68.  H.  D.   Robinson 

1854.  C.  H.  Titus  1869-71.  A.  Anderson 

1855.  H.  C.  Atwater  1872-74.  A.  P.  Palmer 
1856-57.  S.  F.  Upham  J875-77.  O.  H.  Fernald 

1858.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman  1878-80.  J.  E.  Hawkins 

1859.  James  Mather  1881-83.  Edward  Edson 
1860-61.  John  Howson  1884-86.  G.  W.  Hunt 
1862.  E.  H.  Hatfield  1887-89.  W.  J.  Smith 
1863-65.  Frederick  Upham  1890-92.  A.  W.  Kingsley 
1866.    '  J-  W.  Willett  1893—  C.  A.  Stenhouse 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — President,  J.  W.  Thayer;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Ezra 
Hamlen;  A.  S.  Rounds,  J.  W.  Strang,  B.  B.  Grinnell,  J.  B.  Farring- 
ton,  J.  A.  Messenger,  L.  P.  Gammons,  Nathaniel  Smellie. 

Stewards — Recording,   A.    S.    Rounds;    District,   J.   W.    Thayer; 
G.   H.  Park,  G.  T.  Davis,  L.   M.   Gammons,  G.   H.  Thayer,   F.   E. 
Grinnell,   G.  W.  Richardson,  W.   H.   Waitt,  L.   L.   Mitchell,   F.   W. 
Dixon,  J.  A.  Mitchell,  T.  W.  Smith. 
-  Secretary — Lewis  L.  Mitchell. 

Treasurer — Andre  S.  Rounds. 

Class  Leaders—Ezra  Hamlen,  W.  H.  Waitt,  B.  H.  Scudder,  T.  O. 
Sherman. 

Local  Preacher — Andrew  J.  Dunbar. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  B.  H.  Scudder;  First  Assistant, 
T.  O.  Sherman;  Second  Assistant,  Lillian  Lincoln;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  J.  A.  Mitchell;  Assistant  Secretary,  C.  E.  Redfern; 
Librarian,  C.  E.  Drinkwater;  First  Assistant,  L.  M.  Gammons;  Sec- 
ond Assistant,  Clifford  Davis;  Third  Assistant,  Clarence  Gammons; 
Chorister,  C.  E.  Drinkwater;  Pianist,  Clara  Clark;  Secretary  Sunday- 
School  Board,  Lillian  Lincoln;  Sunday  School  Committee,  O.  L. 
Baker,  N.  Smellie,  E.  W.  Cobb,  Lena  I.  Baker,  Adelaide  W.  Cran- 
nage,  Emily  Stoddard,  G.  T.  Davis,  Elizabeth  Codding,  Hannah  E. 
Willett;  Teachers,  Josephine  D.  Southwick,  Mary  A.  Baker,  Lena 
Lewis,  Lena  Baker,  Ezra  Hamlen,  Clara  Clark,  Annie  B.  Dickerman, 
Mary  A.  Scudder,  Lucy  W.  Grinnell.  Lilla  R.  Clayton,  Eliza  C.  Strang, 
Rachel  A.  Stenhouse,  Henrietta  E.  Davis,  Thomas  W.  Smith,  Lewis  L. 


2 1 2  *OL'  I  'EXIR  HIS  TOR ) '. 

Mitchell,  Mary  M.  Gushing,  Maria  E.  Farrington,  Thomas  O.  Sher- 
man, John  W.  Thayer,  Benjamin  W.  Scudder,  Carrie  D.  Thrasher, 
Andre  S.  Rounds,  Hannah  C.  Mowry,  Jennie  Smith,  Hattie  Bonner, 
Belle  Josselyn,  Alice  B.  Davis,  Lillian  Lincoln.  Miss .  Carrie  D. 
Thrasher  has  a  been  a  teacher  ever  since  the  organization  of  the  school. 

The  Sunday  School  superintendents  have  been  as  follows:  G.  O. 
White,  J.  G.  Luscomb,  Z.  F.  Jenney,  E.  N.  Jenney,  William  Hutchin- 
son,  J.  J.  Stanley,  Joseph  Hague,  J.  H.  Codding,  Ezra  Hamlen,  W.  H. 
Waitt,  A.  S.  Rounds,  T.  O.  Sherman,  W.  M.  Dunbar  W.  L.  Park, 
E.  A.  Barker,  J.  B.  Farrington,  B.  H.  Scudder. 

Epworth  League — Chapter  656  was  organized  in  1889.  Its  first 
president  was  Walter  L.  Park,  who  held  the  office  five  years.  His 
successor  was  the  present  incumbent.  The  membership  is  nearly 
ninety.  President,  L.  L.  Mitchell;  First  Vice-President,  Mary  E. 
Pye  (deceased);  Second  Vice-President,  Abbie  F.  Dunbar;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Alice  B.  Davis;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Lilla  R.  Clayton; 
Secretary,  Andrew  J.  Dunbar;  Treasurer,  W.  H.  Waitt;  Chorister, 
Lillian  A.  Mitchell;  Organist,  Mary  A.  Scudder. 

The  work  of  the  League  in  all  departments  has  been  character- 
ized by  zeal  and  efficiency.  It  has  been  a  help  to  the  work  of  the 
church. 

Ladies'  Social  Circle — This  society  was  organized  under  another 
name  in  1852,  the  year  before  the  church  took  organic  form,  and  has 
had  a  prosperous  history.  It  has  on  its  records  minutes  which  show 
how  much  aid  it  gave  to  the  Union  cause  in  the  6o's  by  preparing 
hospital  supplies,  etc.  It  has  also  helped  the  poor  in  the  city.  In  its 
regular  work  it  has  earned  and  expended  thousands  of  dollars  for  the 
church  and  parsonage  and  current  expenses.  The  officers  are:  Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Louisa  K.  Coombs;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Ezra  Hamlen; 
Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Gushing;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Strang. 

King's  Daughters — The  Central  Class  Circle  of  King's  Daughters 
and  Sons  was  organized  May  17,  1895.  They  took  for  their  motto, 
''Never  Alone,"  and  for  their  text,  "Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens." 
Ten  women  enrolled  as  pioneer  members,  but  the  number  became 
eleven  very  soon.  The  first  kindly  act  of  the  Circle  was  to  give  an 
outing  party  at  Sabbatia  Park  on  July  24,  1895,  to  members  of  the 
Old  Ladies'  Home.  During  the  two  years  of  its  history  the  Circle 
has  raised  and  expended  over  one  hundred  dollars  in  gifts  to  the 
church,  Sunday  School  and  to  "Gordon  Rest"  of  "The  Helping  Hand 
Society."  The  Circle  has  furnished  needy  families  with  provisions 
and  destitute  persons  with  clothing,  besides  remembering  the  sick 
with  flowers,  fruit,  etc.  At  funerals  gifts  of  flowers  have  been  made. 
The  two  years  have  been  filled  with  good  deeds.  The  officers  are  as 
follows:  Leader,  Mrs.  Martha  W.  Chace;  Vice-Leader,  Mrs.  Sarah 
J.  Dixon;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Harriet  N.  Hatch;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Jose- 
phine Southwick.  Members:  Mrs.  Cornelia  A.  Gammons,  Mrs.  Flora 
H.  Gammons,  Mrs.  Ella  M.  Grinnell,  Mrs.  B.  H.  Lawton,  Mrs.  M.  M. 
Scudder,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Gushing,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Strang,  Lemuel  P. 
Gammons,  John  W.  Gammons,  B.  B.  Grinnell,  Fred  M.  Scudder. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  TAUNTON,  MASS. 


Up  to  the  present  date,  July,  1897,  no  history  of  this  church  has 
•ever  been  written,  and  so  the  data  for  this  historical  sketch  are 
meagre  and  ambiguous,  and  we  cannot  vouch  for  the  absolute  ac- 
curacy of  all  the  statements  herein  contained.  Tradition  saith  that 
the  Rev.  George  Whitefield  preached  in  the  Congregational  Church 

in  Taunton  during  the  pastorate 
of  the  sixth  minister,  the  Rev. 
Josiah  Crocker,  either  on  the  oc- 
casion of  his  third  visit  to  Amer- 
ica in  1744  or  on  his  sixth  tour 
in  1764.  In  1830  "Father  Dane" 
and  the  Rev.  Amos  Binney  had 
charge  of  the  "Mansfield  and 
Taunton"  circuit.  As  early  as 
this,  Methodist  meetings  were 
held  in  the  old  Town  House,  on 
Dean  Street. 

Messrs.  Solomon  Woodward, 
Edmund  Anthony,  John  Haskell, 
Mr.  Lindsey  and  a  few  others 
were  Methodists  and  probably 
organied  a  class-meeting  at  the 
Weir.  At  all  events,  class-meet- 
ings were  being  held  in  this  vicin- 
ity by  these  gentlement  as  early 
as  1833. 

The  first  Love  Feast  ever  held  in  Taunton  was  held  at  the  home 
of  one  of  these  gentlemen,  Mr.  Solomon  Woodward,  on  Main  Street, 
in  the  year  1833.  Mrs.  Mary  Chace,  still  living,  atended  that  service. 
Before  this  church  was  organized  or  there  was  a  preacher  stationed 
here  from  the  conference,  the  people  enjoyed  hearing  occasional  ser- 
mons from,  such  men  as  the  Rev.  Amos  Binney,  David  Culver,  War- 
ren Emerson,  John  D.  Baldwin,  C.  D.  Rogers.  At  about  this  time 
Messrs.  Anthony,  Woodward  and  Haskell  came  from  the  Green  and 
started  meetings  in  the  house  of  a  colored  woman  named  Mitchell,  at 
what  is  now  known  as  Happy  Hollow.  These  services  were  held  at  5 
o'clock  Sunday  afternoons,  and  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  a  very 
large  number  of  persons — heads  of  families  as  well  as  the  younger 
people — and  these  people  constituted  the  nucleus  of  that  church,  which 
was  soon  after  organized  here  at  the  Weir. 

The  first  minister  to  be  stationed  here  by  the  conference  was  the 


FIRST    CHURCH,    TAUNTON. 


214 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Rev.  Samuel  Coggshall,  D.  D.,  in  1834,  who  set  himself  to  the  task  of 
raising  funds  wherewith  to  build  a  church.  He  was  successful,  and 
the  first  edifice  was  begun  in  the  same  year,  1834,  and  finished  and 
dedicated  in  1835. 

According  to  records  in  the  office  of  the  Register  of  Deeds  for 

the  city  of  Taunton,  the 
grantor  of  the  land  on  which 
the  church  was  built  was  one 
Seth  Williams,  and  the  trus- 
tees to  whom  the  land  wras 
deeded  in  trust  were  the  fol- 
lowing persons:  Edmund  An- 
thony, John  Haskell,  William 
Warren,  William  Read,  Jr., 
Abiathar  White.  This  deed 
was  dated  October  25,  1834. 
Abiathar  White  was  a  builder 

FIRST  CHURCH  PARSONAGE.  •  and  contractor;  he  built  the 

North  Dighton  church  edifice 
and  may  have  built  that  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  at  the  Weir. 

Such  prosperity  attended  this  church,  spiritual  and  financial,  and 
such  was  the  numerical  increase  that  as  early  as  1846,  or  in  a  dozen 
years  after  its  organization,  the  church  building  was  enlarged,  during 
the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  William  Livesey. 

A  parsonage  was  built  on  First  Street  about  the  year  1850,  which 


REV.   W.  A.   LUCE. 


MRS.  W.   A.   LUCE. 


was  afterwards  sold  and  the  present  parsonage,  next  to  the  church 
on  Weir  Street,  was  bought. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


215 


The  church  edifice  was  enlarged  and  almost  entirely  rebuilt — the 
work  having  been  commenced  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  H. 
Titus,  in  1868,  and  finished  the  next  year,  1869,  or  during  the  first 
year  of  the  Rev.  Lewis  B.  Bates'  administration.  The  church  building 


M.  A.  DART, 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


LLOYD  W.   PRATT, 
Epworth  League  President. 


was  moved  further  back  from  Weir  Street,  and  underwent  such  exten- 
sive changes  that  very  little  of  the  original  building  remains. 

The  church  was  re-dedicated  June  10,  1869,  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Hare, 


REV.  G.  W.  KING,  Ph.  D.,  AND  WIPE. 
Pastor  1892-96. 

D.  D.,  of  Boston,  preaching  the  sermon.  Messrs.  Jacob  Burt  and 
Calvin  Presbrey  are  the  oldest  living  members,  having  joined  the 
church  in  1845.  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Patten,  who  lived  100  years,  lacking 
one  day,  joined  this  church  by  letter  in  1852,  was  a  regular  attendant 


2l6  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

for  more  than  forty  years,  and  during  the  most  of  this  time  was 
superintendent  of  the  infant  department  in  the  Sunday  School.  Her 
property  on  Weir  Street  was  left  to  the  church  in  her  will,  and  quite 
a  sum  of  money  from  Mrs.  Patten's  estate  will  go,  in  equal  shares,  to 
the  Missionary  Society  and  to  the  Conference  Claimants  Fund  of  the 
N.  E.  S.  Conference  when  the  estate  is  finally  settled. 

Mrs.  Mary  W.  Chace,  another  "Mother  in  Israel,"  still  lives, 
for  forty-two  years  a  member  and  an  earnest  and  conscientious 
worker.  Mr.  Henry  F.  Cobb  was  a  very  loyal  and  devoted  member 
of  this  church  for  half  a  century.  He  loved  the  church.  Mr.  William  H. 
Merrill  was  long  a  member,  and  as  trustee,  steward,  class  leader  and 
Sunday  School  superintendent  served  the  church  faithfully  and  well. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Wilbur  was  treasurer  of  this  church  for  many  years,  an 
exemplary  Christian  and  efficient  worker.  Other  prominent  members 
were  Samuel  Miller,  John  P.  Crane,  Lemuel  T.  Talbot,  Job  Chace 
and  John  S.  Thomas.  This  is  the  mother-church  of  Taunton.  Metho- 
dism is  today  large,  prosperous  and  influential,  numbering  in  her 
membership  many  strong  and  wise  and  great  men,  and  women,  too. 

PASTORS. 

1834-35.     S.  W.  Coggesall,  D.  D.    1857-58.     Charles  Nason 
1835-36.     Rufus  Spaulding  1859.          S.  W.  Coggshall 

1837.  Daniel  Fillmore,  C.  S.   1860-61.     J.  P.  Benton 

Macreading  1862-63.     N.  P.  Philbrook 

1838.  Mosely  D  wight,  Rufus   1864-66.     J.  D.  King 

Spaulding  1867-68.  Charles  H.  Titus 

1839-40.  E.  B.  Bradford  1869-71.  Lewis  B.  Bates 

1841-42.  Lewis  Bates  1872-74.  Charles  Young 

1843-44.  T.  D.  Butler  187=5-76.  Angelo  Canoll 

1845.  D.    Webb,    J.    Parkin-  1877-78.  E.  McChesney 

son  1879-81.  H.  A.  Cleveland 

18/16.  William  Livesey  1882-83.  C.  W.  Gallagher 

18/17-48.  T.  M.  Worcester  1884-86.  S.  McBnrney 

18/10-50.  Paul  Townsend  1887-88.  H.  B.  Cady 

18=51-52.  S.  C.  Brown  1889-91.  E.  C.  Bass 

18^3.  G.  M.  Carpenter  1892-96.  G.  W.  King 

i8=u.  Sanford  Benton  1897—  W.  A.  Luce 

l855-5°".  Henry  Baylies 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees—  George  E.  Wilbur,  W.  E.  Walker,  Jacob  Burt,  C.  H. 
Lincoln,  A.  W.  Parker,  L.  B.  West,  M.  A.  Dary,  John  Paull,  W.  N. 
Parker. 

Stewards — George  W.  Barrows,  J.  L.  Presbrey,  H.  G.  Leonard, 
W.  D.  Richardson,  C.  W.  Robinson,  Robert  P.  Weller,  Lloyd  W. 
Pratt,  John  H.  Staples,  Robert  B.  Pickering,  Charles  T.  Sabine, 
George  E.  Pierce,  E.  F.  Morton,  W.  L.  Evans. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


217 


Class  Leaders — C.  W.  Robinson,  Mrs.  Cora  L.  Brownell. 

Superintendent  Junior  Epworth  League — Mrs.  M.  L.  Bicknell. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society — President,  Mrs.  L.  B.  West;  Treasurer, 
George  W.  Barrows;  Collector,  W.  N.  Parker;  Pew  Renter,  C.  H. 
Lincoln;  Choir  Master,  Charles  R.  Park;  Organist,  George  Hatha- 
way; Sexton,  Charles  Fisher,  residence,  100  Somerset  Avenue. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  M.  A.  Dary;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Chester  Robinson;  Secretary,  Mrs.  D.  L.  Hamlen;  Treasurer, 
W.  H.  Thomas;  Librarian,  Allie  Smith;  Superintendent  Infant  De- 
partment, Mrs.  Flora  J.  Dary;  Librarian  Infant  Department,  Gertie 
Staples.  Teachers,  Alice  Lincoln,  Fannie  Briggs,  Ida  G.  Barrows, 
Mrs.  Alice  Staples,  Fred  Boardman,  Mrs.  Cora  Brownell,  Mrs.  Henry 
G.  Leonard,  Annie  V.  Strange,  Nellie  Drew,  Mrs.  Anna  Blackwell, 
Mrs.  Abbie  J.  Perry,  Mary  Barrows,  Mrs.  Mabel  Bicknell,  Mrs. 
Almira  Haskins,  John  Paull,  Mrs.  Emeline  B.  Welch,  George  W.  Bar- 
rows, W.  D.  Richardson,  Lillie  Carey,  George  E.  Pierce,  Mrs.  Martha 
A.  Morrison,  Mrs.  George  Barrows,  Robert  Weller,  Lizzie  Dunbar, 
Ethel  Reed,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Dary,  Mrs.  L.  B.  West,  Mrs.  Ella  P.  Merrill, 
Mrs.  Harry  Bragg,  Marjie  Walker,  L.  B.  West,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Francis, 
Mrs.  Lydia  Blake,  Mrs.  A.  Boardman,  Maud  Dupee,  Lizzie  Irving, 
Mrs.  Ella  A.  Luce. 

Epworth  League — President,  Lloyd  Pratt;  First  Vice-President, 
Nellie  B.  Drew;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Mabel  Bicknell;  Third 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Abbie  J.  Irving;  Fourth  Vice-President,  W.  D. 
Richardson;  Secretary,  S.  Lizzie  Dunbar;  Treasurer,  George  E. 
Boardman. 


^>:-;>  :'-•'•, 
C^lfe  $£  ?&*&**'* 


RAILROAD    PARK,    YARMOUTH    CAMP-MEETING. 


GRACE  M.  E.  CHURCH,  TAUNTON,  MASS. 

This  church  owes  its  existence  to  the  late  Captain  W.  H.  Phillips, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch.  He  purchased  the  church 
and  parsonage,  previously  owned  by  the  Free  Will  Baptists,  and  gen- 
erously gave  them  the  opportunity  to  redeem  the  property,  which,, 
however,  they  were  unable  to  do.  Their  pastor,  Rev.  Samuel  Mc- 
Keown,  himself  a  generous  contributor  toward  the  building  of  the 
church,  together  with  several  of  the  members,  expressed  a  willingness 
to  become  Methodists  and  thus  to  continue  worshipping  in  the  same 


GRACE  CHURCH,  TAUNTON. 

building.  Accordingly,  with  the  approval  of  Captain  Phillips  and  of 
the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison,  D.  D.,  a  Methodist- 
Episcopal  church  was  organized,  consisting  of  twelve  members  from 
the  Free  Will  Baptists  and  thirteen  from  other  Methodist-Episcopal 
churches.  The  dedication  service  was  conducted  according  to  the 
Methodist  ritual,  December  3,  1874,  Dr.  E.  Tourjee  of  Boston  con- 
ducting the  music,  and  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  D.  D.,  preaching  the  ser- 
mon. At  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Morrison,  the  new  organization  was 
named  Grace  church.  The  pastor,  Rev.  S.  McKeown,  continued  in 
charge  until  the  ensuing  annual  conference,  April,  1875. 

The  burden  of  the  cost  of  the  property  has  been  from  the  first 
sustained  by  Captain  Phillips,  the  church  paying  no  interest.     During 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


219 


CAPT.    W.    H.    PHILLIPS. 


the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  D.  Hall  an  effort  was  made  to  reduce  the 
indebtedness.  Together  with  his  family,  by  whom  his  good  works 
are  continued,  Captain  Phillips  built  and  gave  to  the  church  a  beau- 
tiful and  commodious  chapel  adjoining  the  rear  of  the  church  building. 

This  was  dedicated  January  21,  1892, 
and  is  a  memorial  to  his  late  grand- 
daughter, Fannie  W.  Montgomery. 
The  church  and  chapel,  built  of  brick, 
and  the  parsonage,  a  tasteful,  commo- 
dious frame  building,  form  a  pleasing 
group,  delightfully  situated  at  the 
junction  of  Somerset  avenue  and  Weir 
street.  Together  also  they  furnish 
abundant  facility  for  every  branch  of 
church  work  at  present,  as  well  as  for 
future  growth. 

As  a  result  of  meetings  held,  chiefly 
by  members  of  this  church,  at  Happy 
Hollow,  east  of  Taunton  River,  a 
building  named  Parker  Chapel  was 
erected  during  the  year  1895,  where 
services  are  regularly  maintained  under  the  direction  of  Grace 
Church  Quarterly  Conference. 

The  Sunday  School  has  always  been  successful.  Its  nucleus 
was  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Sunday  School,  whose  superintendent,  A.  J. 
Lawrence,  became  the  first  superintendent  under  Grace  Church.  The 
order  of  Superintendents  is:  To  1877,  A.  J.  Lawrence;  1877,  RCV- 
W.  T.  Worth;  1878,  G.  F.  Gavitt;  1879,  J.  N.  Pierce;  1880  to  1884, 
E.  F.  Anthony;  1884,  Rev. 
E.  F.  Jones;  1885,  J.  L.  Meri- 
gold;  1886  to  1889,  A.  N. 
Dyer;  1889,  C.  J.  Hart;  1893 
to  1895,  C.  F.  Luther;  1895, 
L.  L.  Smith;  1896,  C.  F.  Lu- 
ther; 1897,  E.  G.  Chick. 

The    Ladies'    Aid    Society 
was   organized    in    1875    and 
has  been  a  great  social  as  well 
as  financial  help  to  the  church. 
The  Young  People's  Chris- 
tian League  was  organized  in  GRACE  CHURCH  PARSONAGE. 
1887  and  became  Chapter  325 
of  the  Epworth  League  at  the  organization  of  that  body. 


220 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


A  branch  of  the  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  was  organ- 
ized in  1887,  which  has  continuously  prosecuted  its  benevolent  work. 
The  church  has  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  spiritual  prosperity. 


A 


REV.    B.    F.    SIMON. 


MRS.    B.    F.    SIMON. 


gracious  revival  occurred  during  the  first  few  months  of  its  organiza- 
tion, under  the  pastoral  work  of  Rev.  Samuel  McKeown  and  the 
leadership  of  the  evangelist,  Mrs.  H.  D.  Walker.  Occasions  of  special 
revival  have  been  frequent  and  permanently  beneficial,  besides  which 


E.  G.  CHICK. 

Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


E.    S.   YOUNG. 
Epworth    League   President. 


the  ordinary  methods  of  church  work  have  been  rewarded  by  many 
conversions.  From  this  church  several  young  men  have  entered  the 
Christian  ministry.  Many  of  its  members  have  joined  the  church 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  221 

triumphant,  yet  the  original  twenty-five  are  now  represented  by  over 
three  hundred  members  and  probationers. 

Among  the  workers  not  previously  mentioned  who  have  gone 
from  the  membership  of  this  church  to  their  final  reward  may  be 
named  Israel  Allen,  whose  work  was  successful  in  all  departments  of 
church  activity,  and  John  Seekell,  who  is  remembered  as  one  of  the 
founders  and  generous  supporters  of  Grace  Church. 

PASTORS. 

1875.  S.  McKeown  1885-87.  W.  J.  Yates 

1875-78.  W.  T.  Worth  1887-89.  E.  L.  Hyde 

1878-80.  S.  J.  Carroll  1889-92.  H.  B.  Cady 

1880-83.  E.  D.  Hall  1892-97.  E.  F.  Clark 

1883-85.  E.  F.  Jones  1897—  B.  F.  Simon 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — J.  F.  Montgomery,  H.  L.  Babbitt,  Miles  Dean,  B.  F. 
Cunningham,  J.  L.  Merigold,  C.  F.  Luther,  W.  B.  Ashley,  Joshua 
Gould. 

Stewards— A.  J.  Lawrence,  A.  E.  Blake  (Dist),  Mrs.  F.  W. 
Phillips,  Mrs.  I.  L.  Montgomery,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Read,  H.  W.  Morris, 
Philip  Buffington,  C.  F.  Luther  (Rec.),  J.  W.  Hammond,  B.  F.  Thur- 
ber,  C.  J.  Hart,  Miss  E.  J.  Whiting,  Mrs.  Amy  C.  Buck. 

Class  Leaders— A.  N.  Dyer,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Dyer,  G.  A.  Grant,  C.  S. 
Thrasher. 

Local  Preacher — E.  G.  Chick. 

Exhorters — H.  L.  Babbitt,  G.  A.  Grant,  E.  S.  Young. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  E.  G.  Chick;  First  Assistant, 
Sam  Smith;  Primary  Superintendent,  Mrs.  I.  L.  Montgomery;  Sec- 
retary, Miss  H.  N.  Newcomb;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  T.  Townsend; 
Organist,  George  G.  Crane;  Chorister,  E.  S.  Young;  Librarian,  F.  E. 
Wellman;  Assistant  Librarians,  Miss  E.  M.  Haradon  and  Miss  S.  A. 
Gross;  Periodical  Secretary,  Fred.  L.  Canham.  Teachers,  Charles 
J.  Hart,  T.  N.  Taylor,  George  Davis,  E.  N.  Henninger,  Joshua  Gould, 
Mrs.  Cora  Buffington,  Mrs.  Ellen  Wilbur,  Mrs.  Estella  Smith,  Miss 
Gertrude  Briggs,  Miss  E.  J.  Whiting,  Mrs.  Annie  Francis,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Dyer,  Mrs.  Minnie  Hart,  Mrs.  Almira  Foster,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Geary, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Young,  Mrs.  Clara  Canham,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Simon,  Miss 
Cora  Cunningham,  Miss  Lizzie  Bartel. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mr.  E.  S.  Young;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Mr.  F.  L.  Canham;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  H.  J.  Young; 
Third  Vice-President,  Miss  E.  J.  Whiting;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Cora  Buffington;  Secretary,  Miss  Sadie  A.  Gross;  Treasurer, 
Mr.  Sam  Smith. 


TREMONT  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  TAUNTON,  MASS. 

In  1884,  I.  N.  Allen,  a  local  preacher,  visited  Oakland,  and  get- 
ting a  few  people  together,  began  religious  services  in  the  Worcester 
Street  Chapel,  which  had  been  built  by  stockholders  for  no  par- 
ticular denomination.  The  attendance  increased  and  a  Sunday  School 
was  established.  Rev.  George  W.  Hunt,  then  pastor  of  the  Central 
M.  E.  Church,  Taunton,  held  revival  services  in  this  chapel,  Novem- 
ber, 1886.  About  twenty  persons  were  converted  and  thirteen  united 
with  the  Central  M.  E.  Church,  Taunton. 

The  meetings  at  the  Worcester 
Street  Chapel  continued.  Rev.  Charles 
Hammond  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a 
time.  His  health  failing,  students 
from  the  East  Greenwich  Academy, 
Rhode  Island,  were  secured  until 
September,  1887,  when  Rev.  James  A. 
Wood  was  secured  as  preacher.  He 
continued  to  preach  here  until  April, 
1888,  when  Rev.  Jordan  C.  Wells  was 
appointed  pastor  by  the  Conference. 
A  meeting  was  held  April  22,  1888, 
by  certain  persons  appointed  by  the 
Central  M.  E.  Church,  Taunton,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  "The 
Worcester  Street  M.  E.  Church," 
Presiding  Elder  C.  W.  Gallagher 
being  present.  This  was  the  birth  of  the  Tremont  Street  M.  E. 
Church,  Taunton,  Mass.  A  building  lot  on  Tremont  Street  was  pur- 
chased in  the  fall  of  1888.  In  1889  the  church  was  erected  and  dedi- 
cated by  Bishop  Mallalieu.  The  largest  number  of  members  at  any 
one  time  previous  to  present  writing  was  twenty-nine.  Last  Decem- 
ber, 1896,  the  membership  was  reduced  to  twenty-two.  The  pulpit 
was  being  supplied  by  students  from  Boston.  The  salary  was  three 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  week ;  but  amid  all  the  discouraging  circum- 
stances God  has  graciously  revived  His  church.  During  the  last  nine 
months  the  new  members  and  probationers  have  increased  the  mem- 
bership over  100  per  cent.  The  salary  has  been  raised  to  at  least 
four  hundred  dollars  and  a  genuine  revival  spirit  prevails.  The 
heroic  efforts  and  unwavering  faith  of  a  "faithful  few"  have  been  re- 
warded in  this  crisis  period  of  the  history  of  the  church. 

The  Epworth  League  has  been  brought  from  its  grave  and  in- 
spired with  new  life.  It  has  increased  its  active  and  associate  mem- 
bership to  seventy-two. 


REV.  L.  EVERETT  SQUIRES. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


223 


1888. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 


PASTORS. 

Jordan  C.  Wells  1894-95- 

John  S.  Bell  1896. 

Joseph  Simpson  1896 — 

Harry  Critchlow 


S.  J.  Paterson 
N.  D.  Bigelow 
L.  Everett  Squires 


GEO.    H.    GOULD, 
President    Board    of   Trustees. 


JOHN    PRING,    JR.. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — John  Pring,  Jr.,  Thomas  L.  Smith,  Benjamin  S.  Peel, 
Samuel  N.  Busbee,  George  H.  Gould,  Lloyd  H.  Leonard,  Ernest  L. 
Withereli. 

Stewards — Alice  E.  Wilmarth,  Nancy  H.  Wilmarth,  Anna  E. 
Wilmarth,  Alice  A.  Willis,  Alice  E.  Gould,  Amelia  E.  Busbee,  John 
Pring,  Jr.,  Thomas  L.  Smith,  B.  S.  Peel,  Samuel  N.  Busbee,  George 
H.  Gould,  Lloyd  H.  Leonard. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  H.  Gould;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Samuel  N.  Busbee;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Sophie 
Wilmarth;  Librarian,  Herbert  B.  Payne;  Organist,  Florence  A.  Bus- 
bee;  Teachers,  Mrs.  Anna  Wilmarth,  Miss  Alice  Wilmarth,  Mrs.  Alice 
Gould,  Miss  Anna  F.  Cummings,  Miss  Bertha  Leonard. 

Epworth  League — President,  L.  Everett  Squires ;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, William  A.  Hackett;  Second  Vice-President,  Herbert  B.  Payne; 
Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Anna  F.  Cummings;  Fourth  Vice-Presi- 
dent, George  H.  Gould;  Secretary,  Sophie  Wilmarth;  Treasurer, 
Charles  H.  Pierce. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  TRURO,  MASS. 

Just  how  and  when  Methodism  began  in  Truro  but  little  can  be 
learned.  Something  concerning  its  birth  will  be  found  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  the  Second  Methodist  Church  in  the  town,  as  pre- 
pared for  this  volume.  The  picture  entitled  "The  Second  Methodist 

Church  built  in  New  Eng- 
land," kindly  loaned  by 
Shibnah  Rich,  author  of  a 
published  history  of  the 
town,  and  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  some  of  the 
foregoing  facts,  represents 
the  first  home  of  the  So- 
ciety. This,  says  Mr. 
Rich,  according  to  good 
authority,  was  built  in 
1794,  and  continued  to  be 
the  home  of  Methodism 
in  Truro  until  1826,  when 
THE  TRURO  CHURCH.  it  was  voted  to  build  a 

a  new  meeting-house.  This 

building,  a  barn-like  structure  about  forty  feet  square,  with  two  tiers 
of  windows,  like  the  portholes  of  a  ship  of  the  line,  stiff  galleries 
on  three  sides,  and  a  two-story  pulpit  with  red  doors,  was  finished 
within  the  year,  was  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Lewis  Bates,  and  was 
styled  the  North  Meeting 
House,  now  called  the 
Centre  Church. 

Preaching  services  were 
held  here  two-thirds  of 
the  year,  and  at  the  old 
house  one-third  until  1830, 
when  it  was  voted  to  sup- 
port preaching  in  the 
North  Meeting  House  all 
the  ensuing  year. 

In  1845  this  house  was 
entirely  remodeled.  A  few 
years  ago  other  important 
changes  were  made,  and  THE  TRURO  PARSONAGE. 

thus    modernized    it    is    a 
neat  and  tasty  little  church,  well  kept  in  all  its  appointments,  and 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


225 


when  other  changes  contemplated  in  the  near  future,  in  the  addition 
of  steeple  and  bell  are  made,  it  will  be  as  attractive  outside  as  it  is 
now  within. 

In  1827  it  was  judged  necessary  to  organize  a  parish  meeting  in 
connection  with  the  church.  This  continued  until  1889,  when  it  was 
seen  to  be  unwise  and  unmethodistic,  and  so  it  was  decided  that  it 
should  be  convened  no  more. 

Marked  revivals  have  taken  place.  The  great  revival  of  1821, 
under  Edward  'Hyde,  Frederick  Upham  and  others,  was  mighty  in- 
deed; over  four  hundred  made  profession  of  religion,  and  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six  joined  the  Methodist  Church. 

After  the  October  gale  of  1841,  in  which  fifty-seven  of  the  citi- 


REV.  W.   D.  WILKINSON. 


MRS.    W.   D.   WILKINSON. 


zens  lost  their  lives,  a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  held  by  the 
people  of  the  town  in  the  Congregational  Church.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  a  revival  that  centred  in  the  First  Methodist  Church,  and 
many  were  led  to  Him  who  is  indeed  a  "refuge  in  time  of  storm." 

Other  awakenings  have  occurred  from  time  to  time,  resulting  in 
the  conversion  of  a  goodly  number.  Some  have  gone  to  strengthen 
other  charges,  especially  in  the  cities.  Others  remain  faithful  in  the 
home  field;  many  have  joined  the  church  triumphant. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  S.  Bell,  a  Portuguese  mission- 
ary visited  the  charge  and  a  good  work  was  begun  among  that  people, 
resulting  in  the  organization  of  a  class  which  continues  to  be  a  power, 
with  a  decided  missionary  spirit. 

From  1795  to  1827  Methodism  in  Truro  had  no  regular  preacher 
in  charge,  and  the  names  which  appear  in  the  following  list  of 
preachers,  many  of  whom  did  grand  work  for  God,  include  those  who 


226 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


served  during  that  period  either  as  supplies  or  as  circuit  preachers. 

From  1876  to  1890  the  Centre  and  South  Churches  were  united, 
since  which  time  the  Society,  though  few  in  numbers,  owing  to  the 
depletion  of  the  population  of  the  town,  has  loyally  cared  for  its  own 
work,  and  at  this  writing  (1897)  is  an  aggressive,  God-fearing,  and 


FIRST  CHURCH  ERECTED  IN  TRURO. 

God-loving  Society,  with  class  meetings  fully  sustained,  good  congre- 
gations, and  all  financial  obligations  promptly  met. 

October  24,  1895,  this  church  held  its  centennial  celebration, 
which  was  a  great  event.  A  special  historical  address  was  given  by 
Shibnah  Rich.  There  were  many  other  interesting  features.  The 
present  pastor  is  closing  a  fine  year's  pastorate  with  many  encouraging 
results. 

PASTORS. 


1795-96.     Joseph  Snelling,  George  1806. 

Cannon  and   Robert  1807. 

Yalley  1808. 

T797-          Jacob  Ricklow  1809-11. 

1798.  Smith  Weeks  1812. 

1799.  William  Beauchamp  1813. 

1800.  John  Merrick  1814. 

1801.  Solomon  Langdon  1815. 

1802.  Edward  Whittle  1816. 

1803.  Allen  H.  Cobb  1817. 

1804.  Alfred  Metcalf  1818-19. 

1805.  Philip  Hunger  1820-21. 


Elijah  Willard 
Joel  Steele 
Erastus  Otis 
Joseph  A.  Merrill 
Robert  Arnold 
Elias  Marble 
Bartholomew  Otheman 
Thomas  C.  Pierce 
Orin  Roberts 
Benjamin  Keith 
Ephraim  Wiley 
Edward  Hyde 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


227 


1822-23. 

Leonard  Bennett              1840. 

1824. 

S.  G.  Atkins                      1841-42. 

1825-26. 

Lewis  Bates                      1843. 

1827. 

Warren  Wilbur                1844-45. 

1828. 

Benjamin  Keith                1846. 

1829. 

Abram  Hoi  way                 1847-48. 

1830-31. 

William  R.  Stone             1849. 

1832-33- 

William  Ramsdell            1850. 

I834-35- 

Enoch  Bradley                  1851-52. 

1836-37. 

Thomas  W.  Gile              1853. 

1838-39. 

J.  R.  Barstow                   1854. 

1855-56. 

1857- 

'         • 

1858-59. 

1860-62. 

<*—"-•' 

1863. 

t. 

1864. 

S&i 

1865. 

•k     jfcgS         '  Ji 

1866. 

m          *& 
^ 

1867-68. 

iff 

1869. 

1870. 

1871-73- 

A 

mWbk 

1874-7=;. 

d 

m 

1876-78. 

1879. 

mm                     1880-82. 

ISAIAH  SNOW, 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


1886-88. 
1889-90. 
1891-92. 
1893  — 


Levi  Woods 
Reuben  Bowen 
Thomas  Patten 
Charles  A.  Carter 
Henry  Mayo 
Samuel  Beedle 
Onesiphorus  Robbins 
Theophilus  B.  Gurney 
Thomas  D.  Blake 
Edward  B.  Hinckley 
Lewis  E.  Dunham 
John  W.  Willett 
William  E.  Sheldon 
Nathan  P.  Selee 
James  B.  Washburn 
Lawton  Cady 
Adin  H.  Newton 
Joseph  Gerry 
Hefflin  S.  Smith 
Jason  Gill 
Unsupplied 
Isaac   G.   Price 
Isaac  Sherman 
Richard  Burn 
Virgil  W.  Mattoon 
Charles  N.  Hinckley 
John  S.  Fish 
Charles  T.  Hatch 
John  Q.  Adams 
John  S.  Bell 
Charles  H.  Walter 
William  D.  Wilkinson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Isaiah  Snow,  Barnabas  Paine,  Samuel  C.  Paine,  Joseph 
Higgins,  C.  W.  Snow. 

Stewards — Isaiah  Snow,  Barnabas  Paine,  John  Corey,  Joseph 
Higgins,  Sarah  E.  Lombard,  Sarah  A.  Snow,  Martha  Dyer. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Isaiah  Snow;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Barnabas  Paine. 

Epworth  League — President,  William  D.  Wilkinson;  First  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  W.  D.  Wilkinson;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  R.  F. 
Honey;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  M.  Corey;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
G.  W.  Snow;  Secretary,  Sarah  E.  Lombard;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  C.  W. 
Snow. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  VINEYARD  HAVEN,  MASS. 

The  first  Methodist  who  preached  the  Gospel  on  Martha's  Vine- 
yard was  John  Sanders,  a  local  preacher  from  Virginia.  Eight  years 
later  that  apostle  of  New  England  Methodism,  Jesse  Lee,  stepped 

{ashore  at  Holmes  Hole,  as  Vine- 
'yard  Haven  was  then  called,  and 

ito?  preached  to  a  handful  of  hearers 

in  a  cottage. 

In  1797  the  first  appointee  set 
foot  ashore.  He  and  all  others 
who  followed  him  up  to  1833  had 
all  the  island  for  a  charge. 

After  1800  nothing  certain  is 
known  until  1809,  when  Rev.  E. 
Otis,  who  was  stationed  in  Fal- 
mouth,  preached  on  the  island  fre- 
quently during  his  two  years'  stay. 
During  the  pastorate  of  Shipley 
W.  Wilson  (1816-17)  the  first  class 
meeting  was  formed  with  Hiram 
Chase  as  leader,  who  led  it  for 
thirty  years. 

In     the     years     1821-23,     John 
Adams,  who  was  called  "Reforma- 
tion Adams,"  was  famous  as  a  mighty  revival  preacher.    He  found  113 
members  and  left  210. 

The  first  camp-meeting  held  on  Martha's  Vineyard  was  at  West 
Chop,  and  was  during  the  pas- 
torates    of    John    Adams     and 
Caleb  Lamb  (1826-27). 

In  1833  the  first  M.  E.  Church 
was  erected.  Before  this  the 
congregation  had  worshipped 
in  a  meeting-house  used  alike 
by  the  Congregationalists,  Bap- 
tists and  others,  and  was  a 
private  concern. 

From  1833  to  1856  the  pas- 
tors preached  at  Vineyard 
Haven  and  Chilmark. 

The  first  parsonage  was  built 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  O. 
Robbins  (1839-41). 


VINEYARD  HAVEN  CHURHC. 


VINEYARD  HAVEN  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


229 


During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  B.  Wheeler  (1845-47),  the  present 
church  was  built. 

The  name  of  the  charge  was  changed  during  the  pastorate  of 


REV.    J.    E.    DUXBURY. 


MRS.    J.    E.    DUXBURY. 


Rev.  Philo  Hawkes  (1870-72),  from  Holmes  Hole  to  Vinyard 
Haven.  At  this  time  there  were  136  members  and  37  probationers. 
The  pipe  organ  was  bought  at  this  time. 


JOHN  H.  CROWELL, 

Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


MISS   NELLIE   CALL, 
Epworth   League   President. 


Rev.  S.  F.  Harriman  (1885-87)  wrote  a  history  of  the  church  from 
which  the  foregoing  is  taken. 

Rev.  R.  E.  Schuh  was  the  means  of  procuring  the  present  par- 
sonage. 


230 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


At  the  last  annual  session  of  the  New  England  Southern  Confer- 
ence the  present  pastor,  John  E.  Duxbury,  was  appointed  to  this 
charge  and  found  it  in  good  condition,  and  located  in  the  most  salu- 
brious and  beautiful  place  in  the  gift  of  the  Conference. 


PASTORS. 

1797.  Jesse  Lee  1836. 

1798.  Joseph  Snelling  1837. 

1799.  E.  Kibby  1838. 
1809.  E.  Otis  1839-40. 

1811.  William  Hinman  1841. 

1812.  Edward  Hyde  1842-43. 

1813.  William  Frost  1844. 

1814.  John  W.  Hardy  1845-46. 

1815.  Benjamin  Hazelton  1847-48. 

1815.  Benjamin  Hazleton  and   1849-50. 

John  Lindsay  1851-52. 

1816.  Shipley  W.  Wilson  1853. 

1817.  Thomas  M.  Tucker  1854-55. 

1818.  Shipley  W.  Wilson  1856-57. 
1819-20.     Eleazer  Steele  1858-59. 
1821-22.     John  Adams  1 860-61. 

1823.  Francis    Dane    and    F.   1862-63. 

Upham  1864. 

1824.  Edward       T.       Taylor  1865. 

(Father  Taylor)  1866. 

1825.  David  Culver  1867-69. 

1826.  John  Adams  and  Caleb  1870-71. 

Lamb  1872-73. 

1827.  Jotham    Horton,    Will-  1874. 

iam  Barstow  and  C.   1875-76. 
Lamb  1877. 

1828.  John     C.     Pierce     and   1878-79. 

William  Barstow  1880-81. 

1829.  John     C.     Pierce     and    1882-84. 

Hezekiah  Thatcher  1885-86. 

1830-31.     Epaphras     Kibby     and  1887-89. 

Thomas  G.  Brown  1890. 

1832.          J.   J.    Bliss   and    Lewis  1891-92. 

Jansen  1893-96. 

1 833-34.     Mark  Staple  '897 — 
1835.          Aaron  Joselyn 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— M.  L.  Smith,  A.  W.  Smith,  Warren  Luce,  H.  W.  Beetle, 
Charles  Gifford,  John  H.  Crowell,  W.  S.  Swift,  J.  M.  Tabor,  Owen  H. 
Tilton. 

Stewards— M.  L.  Smith,  John  H.  Crowell,  A.  W.  Smith,  Warren 
Luce  (D.  S.),  H.  W.  Beetle,  A.  H.  Chesborough,  W.  S.  Swift  (R.  S.), 


Joseph  B.  Brown 
Abram  Holloway 
Mark  Staple 
O.  Robbins 
Henry  H.  Smith 
J.  S.  Goodrich 
Nathan  Hale 
A.  B.  Wheeler 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 
M.  J.  Talbot 
George  W.  Sterns 
William  H.  Stetson 
Franklin  Gavitt 
William  Leonard 
Alonzo  Latham 
F.  A.  Loomis 
M.  P.  Alderman 
William  V.  Morrison 
John  N.  Collier 
J.  F.  Sheffield 
E.  Edson 
Philo  Hawkes 
Tames  O.  Thompson 
J.  D.  King 
Eben  Tirrell 
A.  L.  Dearing 
George  H.  Butler 
Wilbur  F.  Steele 
W.  I.  Ward 
S.  F.  Harriman 
George  A.  Grant 
S.  M.  Beale 
R.  E.  Schuh 
S.  F.  Johnson 
John  E.  Duxbury 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


231 


H.  A.  Swift,  Lydia  Eldridge,  Fannie  Smith,  Almira  Luce,  Addie 
Butler. 

Local  Preacher — William  G.  Smith. 

Exhorters — George  E.  Ames,  E.  W.  Cook. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  H.  Crowell;  Assistant  Sup- 
erintendent, Mrs.  George  Eldridge;  Secretary,  Miss  Jennie  Cleveland; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  Norman  Johnson;  Librarian,  Mrs.  Holmes  Swift. 

Epworth  League— -President,  Miss  Nellie  Call; First  Vice-President, 
W.  S.  Swift;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Norman  Johnson;  Third 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Presbury  Luce;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Mabel  Tilton;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Herbert  Hancock;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Lyman  Vinto;  Superintendent  Junior  League,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Duxbury. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WAREHAM,  MASS.  j 

It  is  not  known  that  there  was  any  Methodist  preaching  in  Ware- 
ham  previous  to  1812.  In  that  year  two  young  men,  Heman  Perry 
and  Covell  Bangs,  came  from  Sandwich  to  work  here.  It  being 
known  that  they  were  Methodists,  it  was  supposed  that  they  could 
pray  and  exhort,  consequently  they  were  asked  to  hold  meetings.  The 

first  meeting  was  held  in  a  house 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  William  H. 
Fearing.  This  opened  the  way  for 
Rev.  Benjamin  R.  Hoit,  preacher 
in  charge  of  Sandwich,  to  preach 
here.  After  this  Rev.  Frederick 
Upham,  in  charge  at  Monument 
(now  Bourne)  station,  preached 
here. 

In  1823  some  Methodists  from 
Easton  came  to  Wareham  to  work 
in  the  nail  works.  These  were 
Messrs.  Wilbur,  Waters,  and  Bar- 
low. Others  came  about  the  same 
time,  and  Methodist  preaching  was 
more  frequent. 

In    1826    Rev.    John    Newland 
Maffet  preached  frequently  in  pri- 
vate houses,  and  once  in  the  Congregational  Church.     The  people 
were  favorably  impressed  by  his  efforts. 

In  1830  Ebenezer  Slocum,  a  watchmaker  by  trade,  came  from  the 
South  and  settled  in  Wareham.     He  held  meetings  in  his  shop.     Some 


THE  WAREHAM   CHURCH. 


232 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


souls  were  converted,  and  in  June,  1831,  a  class  was  formed,  consisting- 
of  Ebenezer  Sloctim,  Eliza  Slocum,  Mercy  Ann  Briggs,  Royal  Bar- 
low, and  Relief  Willis. 

Through  the  labors  of  Rev.  David  Culver  of  Rochester  Circuit, 
William  Livesey  and  James  Porter,  a  revival  began,  which  resulted 
in  the  addition  of  forty  members  to  the  class.  About  this  time  the 
Methodist  Society  was  formed  by  William  Fearing,  Esq.,  justice  of 
the  peace.  The  first  officers  of  the  Society  were  Ebenezer  Slocum, 
clerk;  Robert  Hinckley,  Jeremiah  Briggs,  and  Royal  Barlow,  Pru- 
dential Committee. 

The  Society  passed  through  a  period  of  trial  but  was  able  to  build 
a  meeting-house.  The  building  was  located  on  the  fork  of  two  roads, 
one  leading  to  Carver  and  the  other  to  Tihonet.  It  was  twenty-eight 
feet  square  and  cost  $1,000. 

The  year  1834  has  been  chronicled  in  the  local  church  records 

as  the  dark  age  of  Metho- 
dism in  Wareham.  Prejudice 
against  Methodism  became 
so  strong  that  it  displayed 
itself  in  open  acts  of  violence, 
and  the  Methodists  found  it 
necessary  to  remain  in  the 
church  night  after  night.  The 
class  was  reduced  to  five  reg- 
ular attendants.  Soon  after 
this  Mr.  T.  Morse  moved  to 
Tihonet  and  was  a  great 
encouragement  to  the  litttle 
band  of  Methodists. 

About  1835  the  meeting-house  was  moved  to  the  Centre,  through 
the  efforts  of  Rev.  Mr.  Marsh  (better  known  as  Father  Marsh).  The 
Society  now  consisted  of  twelve  members.  They  were  poor  in  this 
world's  goods,  but  rich  in  faith  and  in  love  for  God  and  souls. 

In  1836  Wareham  was  withdrawn  from  Rochester  Circuit,  and 
made  a  separate  station.  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips  was  stationed  here. 
The  congregation  increased  and  the  second  year  of  this  pastorate 
witnessed  a  great  revival  of  religion.  In  1840  another  great  revival 
of  religion  took  place  through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Charles  A.  Carter, 
assisted  by  Revs.  J.  D.  Butler,  Washburn  and  Bicknell.  Mr.  Car- 
ter's name  is  as  ointment  poured  forth  among  the  people  of  Wareham. 
Here  he  labored  in  early  life;  here  he  afterwards  spent  many  years  in 
sickness  and  poverty,  manifesting  his  faith  by  patience  in  suffering  and 
from  here  his  spirit  passed  to  its  reward.  His  influence  lingers  here 
to  stimulate  faith  and  love. 


THE    WAREHAM    PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


233 


In  1841  Rev.  James  D.  Butler  was  stationed  here  and  remained 
until  1843.  These  years  were  marked  by  continuous  prosperity.  Many 
souls  were  converted  to  God,  and  the  present  house  of  worship  was 
built  and  dedicated.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  $3,000.  There 
were  118  persons  on  probation  and  fifty-seven  in  full  membership  at 
the  close  of  Mr.  Butler's  pastorate. 

After  this  the  church  passed  through  another  period  of  trial. 
There  were  many  things  that  were  discouraging,  but  there  were  those 
who  believed  in  the  doctrines  of  Methodism,  and  were  hopeful  of  good 
things.  The  good  things  came. 

In  1871  through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  D.  M.  Rogers  a  chapel  was 


REV.    C.    T.    HATCH. 


MRS.  J.  A.  ELDRIDGE, 
Epworth   League   President. 


at  East  Wareham,  and  the  preacher  began  holding  services  in 
it.  These  services  had  for  some  time  previous  been  held  in  a  hall,  but 
the  Swedenborgians  also  held  services  in  the  hall,  and  the  matter 
"was  a  cause  of  much  unpleasantness.  With  the  chapel  the  Methodists 
.got  a  better  hold  upon  the  people,  and  until  this  time  the  preacher 
at  Wareham  has  done  the  work  of  pastor  and  preacher  at  East 
Wareham. 

In  1877,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Gammons,  one  hundred 
•conversions  were  reported. 

In  1879  RCV-  J-  S.  Bell  reported  fifty  conversions.  In  1893-96  a 
marked  prosperity  and  increased  membership  resulted  from  the  efforts 
of  Rev.  C.  H.  Walter. 

In  April  of  the  year  1896  Rev.  C.  T.  Hatch  was  stationed  here. 
The  church  property  at  the  Centre  was  improved,  and  there  was  in- 
creased attendance  at  East  Wareham  and  some  conversions. 


234 


1836-37- 

i838. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841-42. 

1843-44. 

1845- 
1846. 
1847-48. 
1849-50. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


Samuel  Phillips 
Henry  H.  Smith 
Chester  W.  Turner 
Charles  A.  Carter 
James  D.  Butler 
Elisha  B.  Bradford 
John  W.  Case 
Samuel  W.  Coggshall 
Nelson  Goodrich 
Horatio  W.  Houghton 


MABEL  V.  HATCH. 
Junior  League  Superintendent. 


1851. 

I852-53- 
I854. 

1855. 
1856. 

1857-58. 
1859-60. 

1861. 

1862-63. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869-70. 

1871-72. 

1873-74. 

1875-76. 

1877-78- 

1879-80. 

1881. 

1882. 

1883-85. 

1886. 

1887. 

1888. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

180^-95. 

1896— 


Edward  H.  Hatfield 
Nathaniel   Bemis 
George   W.    Stearns 
Philip  Crandon 
Horace  C.  Atwater 
Lawton  Cady 
John  W.  Willett 
Moses  Chase 
Charles  Stokes 
George  H.  Winchester 
George  S.  Alexander 
Abel  Allton 
Daniel  J.  Griffin 
Charles  A.   Carter 
Daniel  J.  Griffin 
Daniel  M.  Rogers 
William  Livesey 
Edward  J.  Ayres 
John  G.  Gammons 
John  S.  Bell 
Melville  B.  Cummings 
George  Hudson 
William  F.  Davis 
Benjamin  F.  Simon 
John  Thompson 
John  Livesey 
William  Kirky 
Adoniram  J.  Leach 
Charles  H.  Walter 
Charles  T.  Hatch 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Galen  Humphrey,  A.  Reynolds,  N.  M.  Tripp,  William 
Keyes,  F.  C.  Keyes. 

Stewards — Albert  Humphrey,  Eugene  Johnson,  L.  W.  Hall, 
Enoch  Williams,  F.  B.  Keyes,  J.  A.  Eldridge,  M.  D.,  Edgar  Crocker. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Miss  Zilpha  F.  Besse;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Samuel  B.  Tripp;  Secretary,  George  R.  Dunham; 
Treasurer,  F.  Bartlett  Keyes;  Librarian,  Miss  Mabel  Thomas;  Or- 
ganist, Everett  C.  Lewis. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Bessie  M.  Sears,  Mrs.  Betsey  S.  Seaver,  F.  Bart- 
lett Keyes,  Samuel  B. Tripp,  Eugene  H.  Johnson,  Everett  C.  Lewis. 

Primary  Department — Superintendent,  Miss  Nettie  S.  Sampson; 
Teachers,  Miss  Susie  L.  Thomas,  Miss  Lottie  P.  Besse,  Miss  Mabel  V. 
Hatch,  Mrs.  Jennie  F.  Keyes. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Eldredge;  First  Vice- 
President,  F.  Bartlett;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Townsend; 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


235 


Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Leslie  H.  Hall;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Miss  Mabel  V.  Hatch;  Secretary,  Miss  Nettie  F.  Sampson;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Susie  L.  Thomas. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Mabel  V.  Hatch;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Nettie  F.  Sampson;  President,  Mary  Sheriff;  Secretary, 
Minnie  Lewis;  Treasurer,  Jennie  Evans. 

In  1831-32  the  Methodist-Episcopal  Society  erected  a  church. 
It  was  located  near  the  cemetery  at  Wareham,  in  the  fork  of  the  two 
roads,  one  leading  to  Carver,  the  other  to  Tihonet.  The  house  was  an 
humble  building,  twenty-eight  feet  square  and  cost  $1,000.  At  this 
time  the  prejudice  against  the  Methodists  was  so  inveterate  that  it 
would  sometimes  manifest  itself  in  open  acts  of  violence.  The  breth- 
ren, who  were  few  in  number,  after  working  hard  all  day  in  the  nail 
factory,  were  compelled  to  spend  the  night  in  their  little  church  to 
save  it  from  destruction.  One  night  a  ladder  was  driven  through  the 
pulpit  window,  the  latches  of  the  doors  pried  off,  windows  broken, 
and  the  building  very  much  damaged.  In  1835  it  was  removed  to 
Wareham  Centre  and  enlarged.  The  present  church  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated September  8,  1842.  The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  John  Lovejoy  of  New  Bedford.  This  enterprise  was  started  and 
carried  forward  to  completion  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  James  D. 
Butler.  The  house  is  substantial  and  commodious  and  has  a  large 
vestry  that  is  used  for  social  meetings. 

The  above  is  an  extract  from  the  History  of  Wareham,  written 
by  Rev.  Noble  W.  Everett  for  a  History  of  Plymouth  County. 


CRANBERRY    SCENE    ON    CAPE    COD. 
Photo   by   E.    B.    Gurney. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  WAREHAM,  MASS. 

In  1872  the  Episcopal-Methodists  built  a  chapel  in  Agawam  Vil- 
lage. Regular  Sabbath  services  are  held  there,  and  they  have  a 
flourishing  Sunday  School.  The  chapel  was  built  during  the  pas- 
torate of  the  late  Rev.  David  M.  Rogers,  and  he  and  his  devoted  wife 
were  largely  instrumental  in  its  erection.  The  lot  on  which  it  is  lo- 
cated was  given  for  the  purpose  by  the  late  Samuel  T.  Sherman. 

This  chapel  is  now  being 
greatly  improved — a  room, 
twenty  feet  square,  is  in  pro- 
cess of  construction,  which  is 
to  be  surmounted  by  a  tower,, 
in  which  a  fine  bell  is  to  be 
placed.  These  improvements 
are  the  result  of  the  enter- 
prise and  benevolence  of  Mr. 
George  E.  Bryant,  of  the  firm 
of  Besse,  Bryant  &  Co.,  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  who  gives  one- 
half  of  the  amount  of  the 
cost  and  donates  the  bell. 
Mr.  Bryant  has  also  had 

a    platform    erected     with     panelled     front    board   and  curtain  for 
the  choir,  together  with  the  chairs  for  the  choir  and  an  altar  rail,  all 


EAST  WAREHAM    CHURCH. 


W.  E.  ROBBINS, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


ALFRED   C.    COVELL, 
Ex-President  Epworth  League. 


nicely  finished  in  black  walnut.     Mr.  Bryant's  wife  is  a  daughter  of 
the  late  S.  T.  Sherman,  who  gave  the  lot. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


237 


The  religious  interest  at  the  chapel  is  good.  Some  conversions 
have  occurred  there  the  past  winter  and  the  attendance  is  good  at  all 
services.  The  chapel  services  are  a  part  of  the  regular  work  of  the 
Wareham  charge. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — J.  C.  Eldridge,  Jonathan  Westgate,  I.  B.  Eldridge, 
G.  H.  Bryant,  Eugene  Ellis. 

Stewards— Charles  H.  Bryant,  A.  C.  Covell,  T.  A.  Morse,  Mary  J. 
Lockhart,  Eugene  Ellis,  Mary  A.  Griffith. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  E.  Robbins;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  Clara  L.  Covell;  Organist,  Martha  E.  Stuart;  Assistant 
Organist,  Addie  Sherman.  Teachers,  Mary  A.  Lockhart,  Susan  L. 
Eldridge,  Alfred  C.  Covell,  Lucia  H.  Covell,  Eugene  F.  Ellis,  Addie 
Sherman,  Mabel  F.  Robbins.  Primary  Department,  Lena  Bryant, 
Martha  E.  Stuart. 

Epworth  League — President,  C.  T.  Hatch;  First  Vice-President, 
W.  E.  Robbins;  Second  Vice-President,  M.  A.  Griffith;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Eugene  F.  Ellis;  Secretary,  Martha  E.  Stuart;  Treasurer, 
Addie  Sherman. 


TABERNACLE,    YARMOUTH    CAMP-M  EETING. 
Photo   by   E.    B.    Gurney. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WELLFLEET,  MASS. 

Methodism  came  to  Wellfleet  as  a  sequence  of  that  sing-ular  prov- 
idence of  God  that  brought  Rev.  Wm.  Humbert,  a  local  preacher,  to 
Provincetown  harbor,  captain  of  a  vessel,  and  kept  him  wind  bound 
for  several  days.  This  man  believed  in  occupying  until  the  Master 

came,  and  he  preached  every  even- 
ing while  thus  detained. 

Very  soon  after  Mr.  Humbert's 
visit,  Rev.  George  Cannon  was 
stationed  at  Provincetown.  He 
was  followed  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Snelling  and  Rev.  Robert  Yalla- 
lee.  The  latter  was  the  first  min- 
ister of  the  Methodist-Episcopal 
Church  to  hold  meetings  in  Well- 
fleet.  He  came  in  1797  in  much 
the  same  way  as  Paul  went  into 
Macedonia,  by  invitation  and  the 
prompting  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

He  was  followed  in  occasional 
visits  by  Revs.  Jacob  Rickhow, 
Smith  Weeks,  John  Broadhead, 
Joseph  Snelling,  Edward  Whittle, 
Allen  H.  Cobb,  Philip  Munger 
and  Elijah  Willard,  all  of  whom 
were  devout,  self-sacrificing  men 
of  God. 

The  first  class   was   organized   in    1802,   and   consisted   of   three 
members — Abigail  Gross,  Thankful  Atwood  and   Lurana  Higgins — 
a  trio  of  faithful  women.     Like  Lydia,  "the  seller  of  purple,"  their 
"hearts  were  opened  by  the 
Lord  that  they  attended  unto 
the       things       which       were 
spoken."     The    church   owes 
much  to  the  fervent  prayers 
and    Christian   zeal    of   these 
women,   one   of   whom   lived 
to    see    the   class    grow    into 
a  membership  of  over  three 
hundred. 

Besides  their  fervent  piety, 
a  prominent  characteristic 
of  the  believers  in  this  THE  WELLFLEET  PARSONAGE. 


THE    WELLFLEET    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


239 


early  period  was  that  when  a  gospel  minister  came  along,  they 
heard  the  word  to  be  doers  also,  and  the  Lord  was  with 
them  and  their  prayers  and  labors  were  not  in  vain.  In  1804  they 
had  a  revival  that  brought  quite  a  number  into  their  fellowship.  In 
1806  they  had  a  gracious  season  of  refreshing  and  ingathering.  In 
the  earliest  records  we  read,  "From  this  revival  a  gradual  increase  of 
religious  influence  followed." 

In  fourteen  other  instances  the  church  has  enjoyed  special  sea- 
sons of  revival  interest,  when  the  converts  have  been  numbered  by 
the  scores  and  frequently  by  the  hundreds. 

The  most  notable  one  was  in  1841,  when  130  were  born  into  the 
kingdom  in  one  week.  During  the  revival  at  least  175  professed  con- 


i 

r 


REV.    F.    L.    BROOKS. 


MRS.    F.    L.    BROOKS. 


version  and  gave  some  satisfactory  evidence,  many  of  whom  have 
been  bright  and  growing  Christians  ever  since. 

Until  1817  the  society  had  no  church  building.  Their  place  of 
worship  was  in  private  dwellings.  Their  sacrament  altar  had  been 
rough  planks  placed  across  chairs;  yet  the  gospel  was  as  sweet  and 
powerful  and  the  commemoration  of  the  suffering  and  death  of  our 
Lord  was  as  precious  as  in  costly  edifices. 

The  first  building  dedicated,  November,  1817,  was  modest  in  the 
extreme,  being  30x40  feet,  with  bare  floors  and  uncushioned  seats. 
The  society  increased  so  that  in  1829  this  building  was  enlarged,  with 
side  galleries  and  one  opposite  the  pulpit  for  the  choir.  Again,  in 
1842,  the  house  was  too  small,  and  many  thought  that  a  more  con- 
venient and  pleasant  location  could  be  found,  and  the  present  site 
was  purchased.  In  1843  tne  work  of  pulling  down  and  removing  be- 
gan. The  new  building  was  57x67  feet,  containing  118  pews,  with 


240 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


galleries  as  before.  The  basement  was  of  brick,  with  two  vestries,. 
one  seating  300  and  the  other  100. 

In  1863  the  house  was  again  remodeled  at  an  expense  of  $14,500,, 
making  one  of  the  largest  and  most  convenient  churches  on  the  Cape 
at  the  time.  On  the  evening  of  February  28,  1891,  during  a  tempest,. 
the  old  church  was  set  on  fire  by  lightning  and  entirely  consumed. 
With  only  $3,000  insurance  money  the  society  heroically  undertook 
the  building  of  the  present  church  edifice,  which  was  completed  and 
dedicated  January  26,  1892,  at  a  cost  of  $8,800,  with  all  bills  paid. 

The  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  1827  and  divided  into  three 
sections,  one  meeting  at  the  church,  one  at  the  house  of  Joshua 
Hamblen  on  the  "Neck,"  and  one  at  the  "Island  Schoolhouse."  In 


PHILIP   HIGGINS, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


S.    NELLIE   HIGGINS, 
Epworth  League  President. 


these  three  sections  the  membership  numbered  about  twenty.  It 
soon  increased  so  that  in  the  following  year  they  reported  ninety. 
The  school  has  kept  pace  with  the  prosperity,  growth  and  decline  of 
the  church  and  now  has  enrolled  a  membership  of  131. 

The  first  camp-meeting  on  the  Cape  was  held  at  South  Wellfleet 
in  August,  1819.  The  power  of  God  was  wonderfully  displayed 
among  the  people.  Persons  from  this  meeting  went  to  their  homes 
in  adjoining  towns  to  be  witnesses  of  Christ's  power  to  save.  This 
was  especially  true  in  Eastham,  where  up  to  this  time  no  Methodist 
preacher  had  been  allowed  to  work.  The  interest  manifested  so  in- 
creased that  Eastham  was  made  an  appointment  on  Wellfleet  Circuit 
the  following  year. 

In  1807  Wellfleet  was  made  an  appointment  on  Harwich  Circuit, 
with  Joseph  Steele  preacher  in  charge.  In  1828  Wellfleet  became  a 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


241 


station  by  itself,  and  so  continued  up  to  the  present  Conference  year. 
The  Providence  Annual  Conference  held  its  session  in  March,  1868,. 
with  this  church.  It  was  largely  attended  and  cordially  entertained. 
We  have  record  of  at  least  five  ministers'  wives  being  taken  from  this, 
fold.  Two  members  of  this  church,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  N.  S.  Hopkins,, 
have  gone  as  missionaries  to  foreign  lands  and  are  now  working  in 
China. 

Rev.  A.  P.  Palmer,  writing  in  January,  1877,  says:  "It  has  been 
the  work  of  this  church  to  raise  up  men  and  women  to  serve  other 
churches.  In  Philadelphia,  especially  in  one  church,  Wellfleet  has  a 
very  good  representation.  In  the  churches  of  Boston  and  New  York 
and  many  other  cities  in  all  directions,  Wellfleet's  sons  and  daughters 
are  found."  An  exodus  of  the  people  occurred  as  early  as  1824.  The 
church  has  been  embarrassed  all  through  its  history  because  so  many 
of  its  members  have  removed  on  account  of  the  limited  means  of  sup- 
port in  Wellfleet.  This  has  been  especially  true  "since  business  went 
down."  It  is  pathetic  indeed  to  hear  the  old  members  speak  of  the 
"good  old  days"  gone  by,  when,  as  one  said,  "No  place  in  the  fishing- 
community  could  boast  of  a  superior  fleet,  numbering  from  75  to  100 
sail  of  vessels.  No  fleet  sailing  from  any  port  observed  the  Sabbath 
as  the  Wellfleet.  They  would  lay,  during  the  Lord's  day,  under  fore- 
sail, and  on  this  account  were  often  referred  to  as  Bible  faces."  Only 
one  lone  vessel  now  reminds  the  people  of  what  once  was  their  joy 
and  support. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  April  4,  1890.  There  ex- 
isted previously  to  this  date  a  society  known  as  the  Young  Folks' 
Literary  Society,  organized  by  Rev.  Charles  S.  Davis  in  September, 
1888.  The  League  has  a  present  membership  of  71  and  is  doing,  as 
in  the  past,  efficient  work. 


PASTORS. 


1807. 

1808. 

1809-11. 

1812. 

1813. 

1814. 

1815. 

1816. 

1817. 

1818-19. 

1820-21. 

1822-23. 

1824. 

1825-26. 


Joel  Steele 
Erastus  Otis 
Joseph  A.  Merrill 
Robert  Arnold 
Elias  Marble 
Bartholomew  Otheman 
Thomas  C.  Peirce 
Orin  Roberts 
Benjamin  Keith 
Ephraim  Wiley 
Edward  Hyde 
Leonard  Bennett 
S.  G.  Atkins 
Lewis  Bates 


1827-28. 
1829-30. 
1831. 
1832. 

1833- 

I834-35- 

1836. 

1837-38. 
1839. 
1840-41. 
1842-43. 

1844-45- 
1846-47. 
1848. 


Joel  Steele 
B.  F.  Lambord 
N.  S.  Spaulding 
S.  B.  Hascall 
Hector  Brownson 
Warren  Emerson 
B.  F.  Lambord 
Heman  Perry 
I.  M.  Bidwell 
Paul  Townsend 
Jonathan  Cady 
G.  W.  Stearns 
John  Lovejoy 
Cyrus  C.  Munger 


242 

1849-50. 
1851-52. 

1853- 

1854-55- 

1856-57- 

1858-59- 

i86o-6i. 

1862. 

1863-64. 

1865-66. 

1867-68. 

1869. 

1870-72. 


SOLT  EN  I R  HISTORY. 


Samuel  Fox  1873-74. 

John  Howson  1875-77. 

J.  E.  Gifford  1878-80. 

Erastus  Benton  1881-82. 

E.  K.  Colby  1883. 

E.  H.  Hatfield  1884-85. 

Tames  Mather  1886-87. 

John  Howson  1888-90. 

A.  N.  Bodfish  1891-92. 
William  V.  Morrison       1893-94. 

Charles  Nason  1895-96. 

Walter  Ela  1897— 
A.  J.  Church 


C.  S.  Macreading 
A.  P.  Palmer 
Edward  Edson 
S.  M.  Beale 
Samuel  McBurney 
George  A.  Morse 
Angelo  Canoll 
Charles  S.  Davis 
William  S.  Fitch 
Edwin  D.  Hall 
George  W.  Elmer 
Frank  L.  Brooks 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Thomas  A.  Higgins,  Alfred  Smith,  Philip  Higgins, 
L.  Dow  Baker,  James  L.  Gordon,  L.  A.  Newcombe,  Darius  A.  New- 
combe,  James  M.  Mott,  F.  H.  Pervere. 

Stewards — Thomas  H.  Lewis,  Philip  Higgins,  George  W.  Hard- 
ing, John  A.  Swett,  Henry  Baker,  Thomas  A.  Higgins,  Austin  E. 
Dyer,  James  L.  Gordon,  L.  A.  Newcombe,  Uriah  Rich,  Levi  L.  Hig- 
gins, L.  Dow  Baker. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Philip  Higgins;  Assistant  Sup- 
erintendent, James  L.  Gordon;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Alvin  L. 
Wiley;  Librarian,  Albert  Davis;  Assistant  Librarian,  Georgiana  Davis. 
Committee — Mrs.  William  Smith,  Mrs.  William  H.  Young,  Mrs. 
A.  A.  Knowles,  Mrs.  George  W.  Williams,  Thomas  A.  Higgins,  Levi  L. 
Higgins. 

Teachers — James  L.  Gordon,  Sarah  Collins,  Ellen  Baker,  S.  Nellie 
Higgins,  Lizzie  Higgins,  Hannah  Newcombe,  Lillian  Brooks,  Martha 
Pervere,  Jane  Stauning,  Sarah  Hopkins,  Edith  Cobb,  Mary  Douglass, 
F.  L.  Brooks. 

Epworth  League — President,  S.  Nellie  Higgins;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Edith  Cobb;  Second  Vice-President,  Eva  Baker;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Mary  L.  Douglass;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Emma  F.  Par- 
sons; Secretary,  Nellie  Pierce;  Treasurer,  John  Swett;  Superintendent 
of  Junior  League,  Edith  Cobb. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WEST  DENNIS,  MASS. 


Methodist  preaching  was  first  heard  in  this  place  in  1833.  The 
heralds  of  free  salvation,  Rev.  Messrs.  Sanderson  and  Britt,  known  as 
sons  of  thunder,  from  Bridgewater  to  Provincetown,  began  Methodist 
preaching  here  in  a  schoolhouse,  where  C.  N.  Hinckley,  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  N.  E.  S.  Confer- 
ence, taught  school.  The  estab- 
lished Church  (Presbyterian)  was 
so  bitter  towards  the  ranting, 
shouting  Methodists  that  some 
locked  their  wives  out  of  doors 
when  they  attended  the  meetings. 
Conversions  were  numerous,  a 
class  was  formed,  a  parish  society 
organized,  and  in  1835  a  church 
costing  $2,000  was  built.  Captain 
Elisha  Crowell  gave  the  lot,  which 
was  staked  out  by  himself  and  his 
wife,  Roxanna.  Rev.  William  Bai- 
ley preached  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon. Rev.  Benjamin  Swift  was 


pastor,  Browning  K.  Baker,  class 
leader  and  chorister.  The  ex- 
penses of  preaching  were  met  by 
the  annual  sale  of  pews,  a  custom 
continuing  to  the  present. 
In  1873,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Edward  Edson,  the  church 

was  changed  from  Protestant-Methodist  to  Methodist-Episcopal,  and 

the  fine  parsonage  was  built 

during  the  pastorate  of  A.  E. 

Hall.    Most  of  the  pastors  did 

faithful  work  and  saw  souls 

saved.     The  church  has  ex- 
perienced   many    trials    and 

seen    great    changes.       The 

house  has  been  three  times 

enlarged,    and    both    church 

and  parsonage  are  among  the 

best  in  New  Bedford  District. 

The   salary   has  varied  from 

$300  to  $1,200,  according  to 


THE    WEST    DENNIS    CHURCH. 


THE   WEST    DENNIS    PARSONAGE. 


244 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


the  business  of  the  place.  The  names  Baker,  Crowell,  Loring, 
Childs,  Thatcher,  and  Chase  suggest  monuments  in  history 
and  pillars  in  the  church.  These  names  stand  for  the  men  and 
Avomen  who  were  always  ready  to  give  money  for  church  building  and 


REV.   J.    T.   DOCKING. 


MRS.    J.    T.   DOCKING. 


for  sustaining  the  minister,  attending  all  the  means  of  grace  and  pray- 
ing for  the  success  of  Zion.  The  memory  of  their  good  deeds  still 
lingers,  although  most  of  the  fathers  have  been  gathered  home. 

During  the  present  year  great  and 
important  improvements  have'  been 
made  in  the  church  property.  A  very 
convenient  new  chapel  has  been 
built,  with  an  opening  from  the  main 
audience  room,  having  also  a  ladies' 
parlor.  The  audience  room  itself 
has  been  wholly  refurnished  with 
new  carpet,  new  stained  glass  win- 
dows and  beautiful  new  antique  oak 
circular  pews.  These  improvements 
have  cost  about  $2,500,  and  all 
has  been  paid.  While  these  pages 
are  passing  through  the  press  a 
gracious  series  of  revival  services  are 
being  held  in  the  church,  from  which 
glorious  results  are  anticipated. 


s.  COVIL, 

Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


PASTORS. 


1 873-75.     Edward  Edson 
1875-78.     Almon  E.  Hall 


1878.          R.  W.  C.  Farnsworth 
1879-80.     Sam'l  M.  Beale 


SOUVENIR   HISTORY. 


245 


1881-82. 

1883. 

1884-86. 

1887-88. 

1889-90. 


Asa  N.  Bodfish 
Merrick  Ransom 
George  A.  Grant 
Charles  S.   Morse 
W.  H.  McAllister 


1891.  D.  N.  Stafford 

1892-93.  R.  M.  Wilkins 

1894-96.  J.  G.  Gammons 

1897 —  J.  T.  Docking 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — E.  E.  Crowell,  Sears  Crowell,  S.  C.  Studley,  Andrew 
Baker,  Alexander  Baker,  P.  H.  Crowell,  Horatio  B.  Baker,  O.  K. 
Baker. 

Stewards— S.  Covil  (R.  S.),  E.  E.  Crowell,  H.  P.  Crowell  (D.  S.), 
S.  C.  Studley,  A.  Baker,  O.  K.  Baker,  Willard  Crowell,  R.  D.  Kelley, 
Mrs.  M.  K.  Kenyon,  Mrs.  Olive  Baxter. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  S.  Covil;  Librarian,  William  Lor- 
ing;  Secretary,  May  Darling;  Treasurer,  Hattie  Baxter;  Organist, 
Lizzie  Kelley;  Chorister,  R.  Ina  Crowell.  Teachers,  E.  E.  Crowell, 
Lillian  Kelley,  Mary  Covil,  J.  T.  Docking,  Hattie  Baxter,  Sophia 
•Crowell,  Olive  Baxter,  Ida  Pickering,  Mercy  Kenyon,  Roderick  Kel- 
ley, R.  Ina  Crowell,  Addie  Garfield. 

Christian  Endeavor — -President,  R.  Ina  Crowell;  Vice-President, 
Addie  Garfield;  Treasurer,  Hattie  Baxter;  Secretary,  Ida  Love; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Sadie  Baxter. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WEST  FALMOUTH,  MASS. 

In  the  year  1850  one  of  the  Falmouth  ministers  came  to  the  vil- 
lage and  held  a  meeting,  the  result  of  which  was  a  number  of  con- 


WEST  FALMOUTH  CHURCH. 


versions,  among  which  were  Captain  J.   H.   Bowman  and  wife  and 
Mrs.  E.  S.  Wicks  and  J.  M.  Lumbert.     This  revival  was  carried  on 


246 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


by  others,  persons  coming  from  different  parts  of  the  town.     Marshal 

Grew  was  one  of  these  earnest  workers. 

A  class  was  formed  with   E.   Packard  as   leader.     Some  of  the 

young  converts  were  forbidden  to  attend  this  class,  but  the  difficulties 

they  encountered  made  them  all  the 
stronger. 

Rev.  William  H.  Stetson  preached 
here  in  the  old  schoolhouse  in  1852. 
In  1854-56  Josiah  C.  Allen  was  ap- 
pointed here  and  at  East  Falmouth.  It 
was  not  until  1857 that  an  organization 
wras  perfected.  In  that  year  a  building 
committee  was  chosen  composed  of 
Asa  S.  Tobey,Braddock  Baker,  Gideon 
H.  Baker,  Reuben  Landers  and  Silas  J. 
Elclred.  They  employed  Alvin  Crow- 
ell  to  erect  a  church.  The  first  mem- 
bers, who  were  dismissed  from  the  Fal- 
mouth church,  numbered  twenty-two. 
The  church  was  completed  and 
dedicated  in  1857,  the  first  pastor 

in  the  new  church  being  Charles  A.  Carter,  who  remained  two  years, 

1858-59,  returning  again  in  1863  and  remaining  until  1865. 

Under  the  pastorate  of   Rev.    Moses   Brown  a  gracious  revival 


REV.   H.   G.   CURLESS. 


J.    H.   BOWMAN, 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


AMASA   BAXTER, 
Epworth   League   President. 


came  to  the  place.     His  name  is  often  mentioned  by  the  older  mem- 
bers.    The   church,  though   not   strong,   has   more   than   double   the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  247 

number  of  members  it  had  at  its  organization.  The  young  people  are 
among  its  most  efficient  workers.  The  membership  numbers  forty- 
six  and  two  probationers. 

PASTORS. 

1858-60.  Charles  A.   Carter  1887.  A.  C.  Bell 

1860-62.  Edmund  Colby  1887.  Benjamin  C.  Gillis 

1863-64.  Charles  A.  Carter  1887.  Thomas  Whiteside 

1865-67.  Richard  Dorr  1888.  George  M.   Meese 

1867-69.  A.  S.  Edgerly  1889.  T.  L.  Rounds 

1870-71.  Moses  Brown  1890.  L.  H.  Massey 

1872-74.  S.    Hamilton   Day  1891.  J.  E.  Meade 

1879-80.  J.   S.   Davis  1892.  E.  C.  Dixon 

1881-82.  E.  H.  Hatfield  1893.  T.  B.  White 

1883-84.  J.  O.  Denning  1894—  H.  G.  Curless 

1885-86.  W.  H.  Summers 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — J.  H.  Bowman,  A.  J.  Hamblin,  J.  W.  Avery,  R.  E. 
Bowman,  C.  O.  Hamblin,  H.  M.  Bowman,  Amasa  Baxter,  S.  F. 
Swift,  Fred  N.  Bowman. 

Stewards — J.  H.  Bowman,  E.  S.  Wicks,  A.  J.  Hamblin,  R.  L. 
Bowman,  John  West,  E.  A.  Hamblin,  Alice  B.  Landers,  H.  E.  Gif- 
ford,  E.  H.  Bowman,  J.  E.  Bowman,  Annie  Bowman,  Emily  Hamblin. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Joseph  H.  Bowman;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Hannah  E.  Gifford;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Amasa 
Baxter;  Librarian.  Roswell  Gifford. 

Epworth  League — President,  Amasa  Baxter;  Vice-Presidents  De- 
partment of  Spiritual  Work,  Miss  Alice  B.  Landers;  Mercy  and  Help, 
Mrs.  Christina  H.  Crowell;  Literary  Department,  Roswell  T.  Gifford; 
Social. Work,  Mrs.  Mary  Bowman. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WESTPORT  POINT,  MASS. 

*       *       * 

• 

As  early  as  1818  Rev.  Nathan  Paine  came  into  this  village  and 
preached  in  private  houses  and  school-houses.  His  visits  were  fort- 
nightly. A  few  were  converted,  and  formed  a  class,  the  first  three 
members  of  which  were  Rachel  Macomber,  Mary  Underwood,  and 
Betsey  Cornell  whom  Paine  baptized.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Calvin  Brewer,  who  in  turn  was  followed  by  Revs.  J.  W.  Chase 
and  D.  Dorcester.  The  present  church  society  was  formed  in  1830 
with  the  following  members:  Abner  Davis,  Israel  Macomber,  Simeon 
Macomber,  Edward  Hazard,  Otis  Macomber,  Thomas  Durfee,  Rachel 
Macomber,  Betsey  Cornell,  Mary  Underwood,  Dorothy  Manchester 
and  Diana  Manchester.  The  first  trustees  were:  Abner  Davis,  Israel 


24g  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Macomber,  and  Edward  Hazard,  and  the  deed  of  the  lot  on  which  the 
first  meeting-house  was  built  was  given  in  their  name.  The  meeting- 
house was  built  by  Joseph  Cornell,  was  "raised"  July  27,  1832,  in  the 
afternoon,  and  finished  the  following  fall.  It's  cost  was  about  $800. 
It  was  situated  about  a  mile  north  of  the  present  location  of  the 
church  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  near  a  huge  rock.  The  land 
was  purchased  of  Captain  Barney  Hicks  for  twenty-four  dollars.  After 
the  house  was  built  the  pews  were  sold  to  aid  in  defraying  the  expenses 
over  and  above  the  subscriptions.  A  small  debt  remained.  By  the 
tenor  of  the  deed  the  church  must  have  been  purely  Methodistic,  for 
it  admits  those  only  to  preach  from  its  pulpit  who  have  been  regularly 
authorized  to  preach  in  our  churches,  and  the  deed  most  emphatically 
asserts  that  the  chapel  wras  erected  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  desire 
to  attend  the  ministry  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  About  the  fall  of  1842 
the  house  was  moved  southward,  and  placed  on  the  corner  of  the  pres- 
ent village  cemetery.  It  was  enlarged  and  new  pews  put  in,  which 
were  sold  to  defray  expenses.  Thomas  Durfee  took  an  active  part 
in  the  enterprise,  as  well  as  the  pastor  then  stationed  here,  Rev.  W. 
Simmons.  Up  to  1846,  or  thereabouts,  the  charge  was  connected 
with  that  at  Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  about  ten  miles  west.  Though  the 
two  formed  a  circuit,  the  records  show  they  were  separate  so  far  as 
their  individual  interests  were  concerned. 

The  present  writer  is  indebted  to  Rev.  J.  G.  Gammons  for  most 
of  the  above  painstaking  record.  During  the  succeeding  pastorate 
of  Rev.  O.  A.  Farley  the  subject  of  a  new-  church  began  to  be  agitated 
during  the  summer  of  1882.  A  subscription  book  was  opened  and 
met  with  unexpected  success.  A  building  committee  was  organized, 
consisting  of  O.  A.  Farley,  Andrew  Hicks,  Horatio  Brownell,  Simeon 
Macomber,  C.  T.  Allen.  The  site  chosen  was  on  the  opposite  corner 
of  the  cross-road  from  where  the  old  church  stood,  but  on  the 
same  side  of  Main  Street.  This  gave  a  fine,  large  lot,  ample  for  a 
commodious  and  beautiful  church,  with  warm,  comfortable  barn  in 
rear.  Ground  was  broken  on  May  i,  1883,  and  the  work  progressed 
rapidly  through  the  summer  under  the  efficient  lead  of  Contractor 
Thomas  B.  Earle,  of  this  place,  aided  by  the  wise  counsel  of  the  com- 
mittee. Andrew  Hicks  generously  aided  in  defraying  the  expenses  to 
the  amount  of  nearly  one-fourth  the  cost.  This  was  a  little  over 
$5,300,  and  on  April  2,  1884,  the  church  was  dedicated,  debt  free,  Rev. 
C.  B.  Pitblado  preaching  the  sermon. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Livesey  several  beautiful 
stained-glass  windows  with  others  of  ground  glass  were  placed  in  the 
church  at  an  expense  of  about  four  hundred  dollars.  Several  valuable 
improvements  were  also  made  during  Rev.  B.  F.  Raynor's  pastorate. 


SOUVENIR   HISTORY. 


249 


Thus,  under  the  indefatigable  labors  of  Rev.  O.  A.  Farley  and 
others,  the  Society  possesses  the  finest  public  building  in  the  township. 
It  is  comfortably  seated  with  150  opera  chairs  and  when  the  vestry 
opposite  the  pulpit  is  thrown  into  the  main  room,  the  church  can 
easily  accommodate  three  hundred  people.  The  site  of  the  old  church, 
after  the  latter  was  disposed  of,  was  thrown  into  the  cemetery,  and 
burial  lots  sold.  Recently  a  new  wall  has  been  built  along  its  north 
side,  and  the  old  one  repaired,  and  the  cemetery  cleared  up  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $265. 

The  whole  village  is  interested  in  the  support  of  its  church,  and 
•during  the  season  an  excellent  class  of  summer  visitors  give  material 
aid.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  Rev.  Chas.  Cuthbert  Hall, 

D.  D.,  who  for  the  past  twenty  years 
has  been  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Brooklyn,  and  who  has 
recently  been  elected  president  of 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  New 
.York.  Dr.  Hall  has  a  summer  resi- 
dence on  Elbridge  Heights,  and  with 
his  family  is  a  faithful  attendant  at  pub- 
lic worship,  usually  preaching  several 
times  during  the  summer  to  the  great 
delight  of  large  audiences.  Until  re- 
cently the  church  has  been  without  a 
parsonage.  In  November,  1896,  Mr. 
Simeon  Macomber,  who  will  be  recalled 
as  one  of  the  original  members,  died  at 
the  ripe  age  of  84,  and  left  his  commodi- 
ous residence  for  parsonage  purposes. 

PASTORS. 


REV.  JOHN  THOMPSON. 


1832-34.     D.  Banister  1844-45. 

1835.          H.  Holaway  and  D.  H.  1846. 

Smith  J847- 

1 836-37.     G.   Winchester  and  P.  1848. 

Crandon  T&49- 

1838.  B.     Sherman     and     B.  1850-51. 

Cady  1852-53. 

1839.  No  Stationed  Preacher  1854. 
1840-41.     George  Winchester,  B.  1855. 

Brown  and  C.  Will-  1856-57. 

iams  1858-59. 

1842.  L.  Harlow  and  W.  Sum-  1860. 

mers      and      J.      W.  1861-63. 

Casey  1864-66. 

1843.  N.  Tainter  1867-68. 


A.  H.  Newton 
tlihu   Grant 
E.  A.  Standish 
Edward  B.  Hinckley 
L.  Cady 

Charles  Hazard 
George  Burnham 
Asa  N.  Bodfish 
George  H.  Cooley 

B.  L.  Sayer 

S.  S.  Cummings 

C.  C.  Adams 

C.  H.  Skidmore 
P.  Crandon 
R.  F.  Macv 


250 
1869-71. 

1872-73. 

i874- 

I875-77. 

1878. 

1879-81. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


E.  G.  Babcock  1882-83. 

Nelson  Chase  1884-86. 
E.  C.  Ferguson  and  S.    1887-89. 

Hamilton  Day  1890. 

Solomon  P.  Snow  1891-94. 

Charles  Stokes  1895-96. 

J.  G.  Gammons  J897 


O.  A.  Farley 
W.  E.  Kugler 
M.  Ransom 
John  Livesey 
.B.  F.  Raynor 
W.  D.  Woodward 
John  Thompson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Edward  M.  Boyce,  Cornelius  T.  Allen,  John  A.  Davis, 
Charles  P.  Sowle,  Jehiel  Baker. 

Steivards—C.  T.  Allen,  J.  Baker,  E.  M.  Boyce,  Isaac  H.  Lake, 
Hannah  Boyce,  Rebecca  Howland,  Emma  B.  Cory,  Julia  A.  Davis, 
Clara  Macomber,  Mary  Frances  Sowle. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Jehiel  Baker;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Clara  Macomber;  Librarians,  Stacy  J.  Boyce,  E.  M.  Boyce, 
Jr.;  Teachers,  Bible  Class,  Pastor;  Infant  Class,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Boyce; 
Rebecca  Howland,  Clara  Macomber,  M.  Frances  Sowle. 
Organist — Addie  E.  Sowle. 

Epworth  League — President, Pastor;  First  Vice-President,J.  Baker; 
Second  Vice-President,  Rebecca  Howland;  Third  Vice-President, 
Clara  Macomber;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Laura  Brightman;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  Addie  E.  Sowle. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WHITMAN,  MASS. 
From  Church   Records. 

Some  time  previous  to  January,  1874,  a  movement  was  made  by  a 
few  Methodists  and  other  friends  of  the  cause  of  Christ  to  establish 
a  Methodist  preaching  service  in  Union  Hall,  South  Abington,  Mass., 


WHITMAN  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


251 


and   a   committee    was   appointed    to    secure    subscriptions    for   that 
purpose. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  December  31,  1873,  a  prayer-meeting 
was  held  in  the  office  of  H.  H.  Brigham,  who  opened  the  meeting 
by  reading  the  Scriptures  and  offering  prayer. 

A  brother  present  on  that  occasion  (Ambrose  Bos  worth),  prayed 
that  ''this  might  be  the  beginning  of  better  things  in  our  midst,"  and 
"that  God  would  do  better  for  them  than  they  had  faith  to  ask  for.''* 
That  prayer  has  been  answered. 

A  sufficient  amount  was  raised  to  support  preaching  and  H.  H. 
Brigham,  although  not  a  Methodist,  agreed  to  furnish  hall,  heat  and 


REV.  O.   E.  JOHNSON. 


MRS.   O.   E.   JOHNSON. 


light  for  one  year,  and  continued  to  give  liberally  in  support  of  the 
enterprise  until  his  death  in  June,  1879. 

The  first  preaching  service  was  held  January  4,  1874,  and  was 
conducted  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Gregory,  of  the  School  of  Theology,  Boston 
University. 

Arrangements  were  afterward  made  with  Rev.  G.  H.  Baker  of 
the  same  school  to  supply  the  pulpit  until  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Providence  Conference. 

At  this  session  of  Conference,  with  Bishop  Peck  as  Presiding 
Bishop,  March  30,  1874,  Rev.  E.  L.  Hyde  was  appointed  preacher-in- 
charge  of  South  Abington  station. 

The  first  quarterly  Conference  was  held  May  8,  1874,  with  Rev. 
W.  V.  Morrison,  Presiding  Elder,  in  the  chair. 

A  large  Sunday  School  was  now  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and 
everything  indicated  a  bright  future  for  this  young  society. 


-5- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Ground  was  broken  for  the  chapel  building  on  land  given  by 
Dunbar,  Hobart  and  Whidden,  Thursday,  July  28,  1876. 

Building  operations  immediately  began,  and  the  chapel  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated,  February  24,  1877,  the  dedicatory  services  being 
conducted  by  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison,  Presiding  Elder. 

Bishop  Randolph  S.  Foster  preached  in  the  morning  a  powerful 
sermon  from  Romans  i,  20:  "His  eternal  power  and  Godhead."  Rev. 
Lewis  B.  Bates  preached  in  the  afternoon,  and  a  service  of  prayer 
and  praise  was  held  in  the  evening. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Starr  a  great  work  of  grace 
began  and  scores  of  new-born  souls  found  "peace  in  believing  and  joy 


H.  H.  TRIPP, 

Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


BENJAMIN  HODGSON, 
Epworth   League   President. 


in  the  Holy  Ghost."  A  parsonage  lot  was  at  this  time  purchased,  and 
in  September,  1885,  a  nice  comfortable  house  was  completed,  and  Rev. 
Silas  Sprowls,  the  pastor,  was  the  first  to  occupy  it. 

Under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  O.  A.  Farley,  1892-94,  extensive 
alterations  were  made  on  the  church,  and  there  is  now  a  commodious 
church  building,  in  which  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  gathers  a  congre- 
gation of  happy  people. 

An  extensive  revival  interest  was  manifest  in  the  early  part  of 
1896,  which  resulted  in  many  additions  to  the  church  which  meant 
much  to  its  future.  The  present  membership  is  146. 

Situated  as  it  is  in  a  community  that  is  growing  and  in  which 
it  is  the  only  place  of  worship,  it  will  in  the  future  as  in  the  past 
prove  a  power  in  extending  the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


253 


PASTORS. 

1874-76.  Edward  L.  Hyde  1886.  Webster  Millar 

1877-79.  William  H.  Starr  1886-88.  James  I.  Bartholomew 

1880-81.  James  G.  Switzer  1889-91.  Louis  M.  Flocken 

1881-82.  George  A.  Reader,  Jr.  1892-94.  Orville  A.  Farley 

1882-84.  S.  Hamilton  Day  1895—  Oscar  E.  Johnson 

1885-86.  Silas  Sprowls 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — I.  F.  Bosworth,  J.  D.  Benson,  E.  M.  Valentine,  Lucius 
Cook,  Edwin  Bryant,  J.  E.  Jennie,  Ambrose  Bosworth,  J.  G.  Higgins, 
I.  F.  Thayer. 

Stetvards — Paul  Black  (D.  S.),  George  W.  Bloomstrand  (R.  S.), 
Daniel  Brown,  H.  N.  Winslow,  S.  M.  Ryder,  William  F.  Stacy,  W.  R. 
Hammett,  Herbert  Tripp,  Henry  Bryant,  Benjamin  Hodgson,  Harry 
Bosworth,  Arthur  K.  Stevens. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  H.  H.  Tripp;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, W.  R.  Hammett;  Secretary,  A.  K.  Stevens;  Treasurer, 
Mrs.  Rosie  L.  Stevens;  Librarian,  S.  M.  Ryder. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Lillian  Skaling,  Mrs.  Lura  Blanchard,  Mrs.  Mary 
Crowell,  Edwin  Bryant,  Miss  Effie  Ryder,  Miss  Mae  Crowell,  Miss 
Annie  Brown,  Miss  Myra  Keene,  Horatio  Winslow,  Mrs.  W.  R. 
Hammett,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Tibbetts,  Miss  C.  M.  Pratt,  Mrs.  Edwin  Bryant, 
J.  E.  Tibbetts,  Mrs.  Clara  Harwood. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  Benjamin  Hodgson;  First  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Myra  Keene;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Flora  Tur- 
ple;  Third  Vice-President,  -  — ;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Ella 
Bryant;  Secretary,  Miss  Effie  Ryder;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs. 
W.  R.  Hammett;  Treasurer,  Harry  Bosworth. 


DECEASED    MEMBERS    OF    OUR    CONFERENCE. 
T.  B.  GURNEY.  A.  W.  SEAVEV.  C.  M.  AI.VORD. 

i847-'84  iS74-'86  iS5<5-'73 

The  dates  indicate  the  years  spent  in  the  ministry. 


S.  LEADER. 
i844-'83 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WOODS  HOLL,  MASS. 

Methodism  early  came  to  Woods  Holl.  About  eighty  years  ago 
Father  Otis  came  this  way  as  a  herald  of  the  gospel.  Subsequently 
Methodist  preachers  came  from  Falmouth  and  held  occasional  ser- 
vices in  the  village  schoolhouse.  These  services  were  well  attended, 


WOODS   HOLL,   CHURCH. 

but  no  organization  was  effected,  and  those  who  were  converted  joined 
the  society  at  Falmouth. 

The  social  meetings  and  the  Sunday  School  were  held  in  private 
houses.  The  home  of  Marshal  Grew  was  made  to  resound  with  the 
voice  of  prayer  and  praise  for  twenty  years.  Mr.  Grew  was  a  pioneer 
Methodist,  who  knew  in  whom  he  believed,  and  the  fulness  of  his  joy 
and  confidence  in  Christ  often  found  expression  in  a  hearty  shout. 
His  home  was  one  of  the  familiar  stopping  places  for  the  early  preach- 
ers, who  found  there  a  Christian  welcome  and  hospitable  reception. 
Mrs.  E.  E.  Swift,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Grew,  and  the  oldest  living 
member,  often  received  the  Sunday  School  into  her  own  house. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


255 


The  class  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Sanford  Herendeen, 
an  old  patriarch  of  the  church,  who  passed  over  to  his  reward  about 
two  years  ago.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  powerful  in  the  Scrip- 
ti  res  and  abundant  in  labors.  Often,  after  a  hard  day's  work,  he  and 

Father  Grew  would  walk  several 
miles  and  hold  a  religious  service, 
expounding  the  Scriptures  and  ex- 
horting the  people.  From  about  1840 
to  1870  he  carried  on  his  tireless  ser- 
vice for  the  Master  in  his  own  house. 
At  the  last  his  mind  became  deranged 
as  to  common  things,  but  he  seemed  to 
retain  all  his  old  religious  power  and 
a  mind  remarkably  clear  and  discern- 
ing in  the  truths  of  the  Bible. 

In  1879  the  present  church  building 
was  erected,  being  dedicated  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Phillips  of  Xew  Bedford, 
in  September  of  the  same  year. 
The  lot  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Grew  and  family.  The  building  cost 

about  $2,500  as  it  then  stood.  In  1890,  about  $600  was  expended  in 
improvements  and  furnishings,  making  the  present  value  of  building 
and  grounds  about  $3,300.  A  vestry  below-  the  auditorium  was  rented 


REV.   O.    L.  UTTER. 


T.    T.    HOWES, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


C.  F.  HAMMOND. 
Epworth  League  President. 


as  a  store  room  for  a  few  years,  which  assisted  greatly  in  cancelling 
the  debt  on  the  building.  It  is  now  used  for  the  Epworth  League  and 
social  meetings. 


256 


SOi'I'EXIR  HISTORY. 


During  the  first  few  years  there  was  no  church  organization,  and 
different  ministers  occupied  its  pulpit.  On  the  evening  of  July  24, 
1884,  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison  preached  and  organized  the  Methodist- 
Episcopal  Church.  The  record  says  that  nine  persons  were  recog- 


WM.    F.    DONALDSON,    Layman. 


SANFORD    HENDERSON,    Layman. 


nized  as  members,  having  been  connected  with  other  Methodist 
churches.  Three  were  received  into  full  membership  and  nine  were 
received  on  probation,  among  them  the  present  class  leader.  Of 
these  early  members,  eight  still  remain  in  the  church,  some  have 
moved  away  and  some  have  joined  the  church  triumphant. 

Rev.  R.  H.  Dorr  was  appointed  pastor  and  Vinal  N.  Edwards  the 
first  class  leader.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  R.  C.  Westenberg- 
(1894-95)  a  blessed  revival  occurred,  through  which  many  were 
brought  into  the  church.  Among  the  number  was  the  present  Ep- 
worth  League  president. 

A  few  years  ago  the  population  of  the  town  was  decreased  by  the 
failure  of  an  important  business  enterprise,  and  with  it  the  member- 
ship of  the  church,  which  now  numbers  thirty.  The  church  was 
probably  never  more  harmonious  than  at  the  present.  All  depart- 
ments of  work  are  carried  on  and  all  is  free  from  debt. 


PASTORS. 


1884-85. 

1885-87. 

1887-88. 

1888. 

1888-89. 

1889-91. 


Richard  H.  Dorr 
J.  B.  Smith 
L.   M.    Flocken 
Henry  Pearce 
C.  E.  Todd 
M.  B.  Wilson 


1891-93.  J.  D.  King 

1893-94.  E.  W.  Eldridge 

1894-95.  R.  C.  Westenberg 

1895-97.  Fay  Donaldson 

1897—  O.  L.  Utter 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  257 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Henry  M.  Grew,  William  F.  Donaldson,  George  E. 
David,  H.  C.  Googins,  C.  F.  Hammond,  T.  E.  Howes,  George  C. 
Look. 

Stewards — Henry  M.  Grew,  Elizabeth  McLeish,  Mrs.  Ella  F. 
Robinson,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Swift,  George  C.  Look,  Mrs.  T.  E.  Howes,  Mrs. 
H.  C.  Googins,  Mrs.  James  H.  Davis,  William  F.  Donaldson,  George 
E.  David,  H.  C.  Googins,  C.  F.  Hammond,  T.  E.  Howes. 

Sunday  School — -Superintendent,  T.  T.  Howes;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Mrs.  Clarence  Gifford;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  H.  C. 
Googins;  Librarian,  Mertie  Crowell;  Assistant  Librarian,  Waldo  Gif- 
ford;  Organist,  Mrs.  T.  E.  Howes;  Assistant  Organist,  Miss  Grace 
Eldridge.  Teachers,  Mrs.  Ella  Robinson,  Miss  Minnie  Nickerson, 
Mrs.  G.  C.  Look  and  Pastor. 

Epworth  League — The  League  was  organized  November  8,  1891. 
The  devotional  meetings  are  held  at  6.30  Sunday  evenings.  It  is  in- 
tended to  hold  a  business  meeting  and  a  social  each  month.  The 
present  membership  is  twenty-seven,  and  the  following  are  the  officers: 
President,  Charles  F.  Hammond;  First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Ella 
Robinson;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  T.  E.  Howes;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Hammond;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  C. 
Look. 


THE  WOMAN'S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 
By  Mrs.  Rev.  J.  H.  James. 

The  growth  of  this  Society  has  been  phenomenal.  Its  inception 
was  due  to  the  conviction  of  its  founders  that  God  called  them  to  such 
service  and  it  quickly  spread  through  the  churches.  This  history 
would  not  be  complete  without  a  recognition  of  the  relation  of  the 
Conference  to  this  great  work. 

Very  soon  after  its  organization,  in  1870,  the  first  auxiliary  within 
our  bounds  was  formed  at  Brockton,  Mass.,  after  an  address  by  Mrs. 
Rev.  E.  W.  Parker,  of  India.  Mrs.  J.  H.  James  was  chosen  President. 
During  the  following  months  local  organizations  sprang  up  on  all 
the  Districts.  Mrs.  Rev.  James  Mather,  Mrs.  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison, 
and  others  rendered  valuable  aid  in  this  pioneer  work.  Mrs.  Rev. 
S.  L.  Gracey  was  the  first  Conference  Secretary  and  gave  the  work 
a  new  impulse.  Her  successor  was  Mrs.  George  F.  Martin,  of  Prov- 
idence, whose  faithful  labors  during  several  years  resulted  in  a  large 
increase  of  membership  and  contributions. 

In  March,  1881,  Mrs.  Rev. J.H.James  was  appointed  secretary  for 


258 


SOI' I'' EN 1 R  HISTORY. 


the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  which  position  she  still  holds. 
During  her  first  year  ten  new  Auxiliaries  were  formed  and  506  mem- 
bers were  added.  Year  by  year  the  work  has  steadily  advanced. 
Since  1881  more  than  $55,000  have  been  raised  within  our  Conference 
bounds  for  this  object,  $2,000  of  this  came  at  different  times  from  one 
"Friend  of  Missions"  whose  name  we  are  not  permitted  to  give.  A 
few  bequests  and  special  gifts,  ranging  from  $25  to  $1,000  each,  have 
come  into  the  treasury,  but  nearly  all  has  come  from  annual  sub- 
scriptions, the  small  contribution  of  self-sacrificing  people,  and  the 


MRS.  J.   H.   JAMES.  MRS.  JAMES  TREGASKIS. 

pennies  in  the  children's  mite  boxes.  There  are  now  nearly  100  local 
organizations  with  about  2,000  members. 

The  work  among  children  and  young  people  is  of  great  value. 
In  the  "Young  Women's  Societies,"  Children's  "Mission  Bands,"  and 
"Little  Light  Bearer's  Circles"  the  workers  of  the  future  are  being 
trained. 

The  reflex  influence  of  work  in  behalf  of  missions  has  been  illus- 
trated in  our  Conference.  Not  only  has  it  awakened  zeal  and  helped 
to  prepare  women  for  better  service  on  all  lines,  but  we  have  been 
represented  in  mission  fields  by  three  ladies,  two  of  the  same  family. 
Mrs.  Mary  F.  Scranton,  reared  on  our  territory,  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Erastus  Benton,  was  the  first  of  our  missionaries  in  Korea,  where  she 
has  labored  assiduously  and  successfully  for  many  years.  Miss  Emma 
J.  Benton,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Benton,  devoted  herself  to  the 
mission  in  Japan  until  under  arduous  labors  in  an  unfavorable  climate 
her  health  failed.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Elmer  of  this 
Conference.  Miss  Mary  E.  Bowen  went  in  1888  from  Warren,  R.  I., 
to  South  America,  where  she  is  making  a  good  record,  especially  as  an 
instructor  in  our  schools. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  259 

Miss  Josephine  Carr,  of  Warren,  R.  I.,  made  a  tour  of  our  sta- 
tions in  India,  China,  Korea,  and  Japan,  remaining  some  months  to 
render,  without  compensation,  much  needed  aid  in  the  last  mission. 
She  has  since  been  Home  Secretary  of  the  Branch,  has  imparted 
valuable  information,  and  her  addresses  and  her  letters  have  cheered, 
encouraged,  and  guided  many  a  worker. 

A  corps  of  District  Secretaries  hard  to  be  excelled  have  faithfully 
attended  to  the  home  work  through  all  the'se  years. 

The  literature  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  is 
specially  commended.  Mrs.  Rev.  O.  W.  Scott  of  Campello  (Brock- 
ton), Mass.,  is  a  member  of  the  "Literature  Committee,"  and  has  con- 
tributed highly-prized  leaves  and  tracts.  She  is  also  the  gifted  editor 
of  that  bright  and  helpful  monthly,  "The  Children's  Missionary 
Friend,"  that  is  having  a  very  large  circulation  throughout  the  Sunday 
Schools  of  Methodism. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  Mrs.  L.  A.  Alderman,  widow  of  Rev. 
M.  P.  Alderman,  has  been  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Branch,  devoting  her  entire  time  and  energies  to  this  cause.  A 
wise  counsellor,  able  to  look  at  a  question  from  all  sides,  thoroughly 
consecrated  to  the  Master,  her  influence  in  our  missions  as  well  as 
in  the  home  land  has  been  constant  benediction. 

Such  has  been  the  part  of  the  women  of  the  New  England  Southern 
Conference  in  the  work  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Yet  not  more  than  one-third  of 
them  have  been  enlisted.  When  will  the  others  awake  to  their  high 
privilege  in  helping  to  send  the  gospel  to  their  sisters  sitting  in 
darkness  ? 


REV.  J.  H.  NUTTING  AND  HIS  WORK. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Nutting  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  of  the  oldest  New 
England  stock,  in  the  year  1841.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  began 
work  as  an  operative  in  the  Rhode  Island  Bleach  Works,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  self-supporting.  His  preparatory  education  was  se- 
cured with  much  difficulty  and  self-denial,  without  assistance  from  any 
educational  society,  in  public  and  private  schools,  with  private  tutors. 
and  at  Eureka  College,  graduating  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  the 
class  of  1867.  After  a  period  of  teaching  he  was  received  on  trial 
in  Providence  Conference  in  1870,  in  a  class  of  fourteen;  two  years 
later  he  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Ames,  in  a  class  of  eighteen ; 
and  two  years  later  he  was  ordained  Elder  by  Bishop  Peck  in  a  class 
of  eighteen.  He  has  always  been  on  the  effective  list,  has  never  been 
sick,  and  has  never  even  wished  to  be  transferred  to  another  Con- 
ference. 


260 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


He  was  first  appointed  to  his  present  work,  that  of  Religious 
Instructor  at  the  State  Institutions  at  Cranston,  R.  I.,  in  1889,  being 
the  first  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church  to  hold  this  or  any  similar  posi- 
tion in  the  state.  These  institutions  are  seven  in  number,  viz.,  Statte 

Prison,  House  of  Correction,  Provi- 
dence County  Jail,  Insane  Hospital, 
Alms  House,  Sockanosset  School  for 
Boys,  and  Oaklawn  School  for  Girls, 
located  at  different  points  on  a  tract 
of  some  700  acres,  eight  miles  south 
of  Providence,  with  six  chapels  and 
an  aggregate  population  of  2,153,  at 
the  date  of  this  writing. 

The  Rhode  Island  system  has  many 
unique  features,  not  the  least  of  which 
is  that  all  state,  penal,  correctional 
and  charitable  institutions  are  wholly 
beyond  political  control,  officials  of 
every  grade  being  appointed  for  their 
supposed  ability  to  do  the  work  of  their  several  positions,  and  no  man 
being  ever  removed  save  for  some  cause  affecting  injuriously  his 
efficiency. 

It  may  be  said  that  the  religious  needs  of  these  many  unfortu- 
nate persons  are  not  neglected,  there  being  conducted  among  them, 
including  Sunday-schools,  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  services  of  worship 


REV.   J.   H.   NUTTING. 


»         «» 


SOCKANOSSET  SCHOOL  FOR  BOYS. 


on  each  Lord's  day.  The  calls  made  upon  Mr.  Nutting  on  other 
days  by  those  wishing  personal  attention  are  numerous,  and  of  a 
character  such  as  to  tax  mind,  heart  and  strength  to  the  utmost. 


SILAS  S.  CUMMINGS  AND  HIS  WORK. 


Silas  S.  Cummings  was  born  May  22,  1814.  He,  with  five 
other  children,  were  left  orphans  at  an  early  age.  His  early  oppor- 
tunities for  education  were  limited.  He  was  converted  in  1837  at 
some  Methodist  meeting  in  Saco,  Me.  He  felt  a  call  to  preach  and 

left  a  lucrative  position  in  the  mills  to 
enter  Kent's  Hill  Seminary  to  prepare 
for  the  ministry.  While  in  school  he 
was  sent  to  Montville,  Me.,  where  there 
had  been  no  religious  services  for 
years.  A  church  with  forty  members 
was  the  result  of  that  year's  work.  In 
1854  he  was  transferred  to  the  New 
Hampshire  Conference  and  stationed 
at  Bristol.  In  1857  he  was  transferred 
to  the  New  England  Southern  Confer- 
ence and  stationed  at  Portsmouth.  In 
1863  he  was  appointed  chaplain  of  the 
4th  R.  I.  Reg't.  In  1868  during  a 
very  successful  pastorate  at  Pascoag, 
he  was  invited  to  be  Missionary  Agent 

of  the  Little  Wanderers'  Home,  Boston.  Since  then  he  has  served 
the  Home  with  rare  ability  and  usefulness.  He  has  addressed  nearly 
five  thousand  public  meetings  in  its  interest  and  raised  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  for  it.  Countless  thousands  of  happy  hearts  scattered 
all  over  the  country  look  back  in  gratitude  to  him  for  his  sympathy 
and  help  in  saving  them  when  young  from  lives  of  sin  and  suffering. 


SILAS  S.   CUMMINGS. 


JOSEPH  H.  JAMES  AND  HIS  WORK. 

Joseph  Henry  James,  Secretary  of  the  Connecticut  Tem- 
perance Union,  was  born  in  Mt.  Holly,  New  Jersey,  April  18,  1835. 
His  parents  were  Methodists.  His  mother,  Mary  D.  James,  was 
widely  known  as  a  writer  for  "The  Guide  to  Holiness,"  and  the  author 
-of  many  hymns,  some  of  which  are  still  highly  prized.  He  was  led  to 
Christ  in  early  childhood,  joined  the  church  in  youth,  and  began  his 
pulpit  labors  while  yet  a  student  at  Pennington  Seminary.  He  en- 
tered Wesleyan  University  in  the  class  of  1857,  but  failing  eyes  pre- 
vented his  going  farther  than  the  Sophomore  class.  His  first  charge 
"was  Westfield,  N.  J.  He  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


in  1856,  receving  his  first  appointment  from  Bishop  Simpson  on  his 
twenty-first  birthday.  After  seven  years  in  New  Jersey  pastorates  he 
was  for  one  year  Chaplain  of  the  Third  Regiment,  New  Jersey  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  laboring  acceptably  and  usefully  with  the  men  at  the 
front.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  in  September,  1864, 
while  visiting  his  parents,  then  in  New  England,  he  was  invited  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  First  Church,  Fall  River,  Mass.  The  next  spring  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Providence  Conference.  There  is  no  one  now 
a  member  of  the  Conference  whose  pastorate  of  his  first  four  churches 
— Fall  River,  Warren,  R.  I.,  Brockton  or  Provincetown,  Mass. — dates 

back  of  that  of  Mr.  James.  His  efforts 
have  always  been  to  get  and  deliver 
messages  from  God  and  do  faithful 
pastoral  work  rather  than  to  elaborate 
discourses,  and  his  chief  usefulness  has 
probably  been  in  edifying  Christians, 
though  in  every  charge  he  witnessed 
conversions  and  additions  to  the 
church.  Perhaps  his  most  remarkable 
work  was  at  Rockville,  Conn.,  where 
a  church  debt  of  $26,000  was  removed, 
but  in  each  of  his  charges  there  are 
those  who  remember  him  and  his  ex- 
cellent wife  with  affectionate  interest. 
The  Connecticut  Temperance  Union 
was  orgaized  in  1865,  with  Wil- 
liam A.  Buckingham,  the  noted 

"War  Governor,"  as  its  first  president.  It  is  a  non-partisan,  interde- 
nominational organization,  seeking  to  "promote  total  abstinence  from 
all  alcoholic  drinks  and  the  overthrow  of  the  traffic  in  them."  At  the 
close  of  his  pastorate  in  Plymouth,  in  1890,  Mr.  James  was  invited  to 
the  secretaryship  of  the  society.  He  has  ever  since  devoted  himself 
to  the  work  of  this  society.  In  addition  to  public  work  he  has  kept 
up  a  large  official  correspondence  and  edited  the  various  publications 
of  the  society.  For  four  years  these  have  included  a  monthly  paper, 
"The  Connecticut  Citizen."  In  these  arduous  labors  his  health  has 
been  wonderfully  preserved.  He  now  resides  in  Rockville,  Conn. 


JOSEPH  HENRY  JAMES. 


LOCAL  PREACHERS 


on 


#&' 


SUPERANNUATES    AND     SUPERNUMERARIES. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

(There  were  a  few  whose  biographies  we  failed  to  get.) 

GEORGE  W.  ANDERSON  was  born  Jan.  19,  1846.  Was  converted  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  and  licensed  and  began  to  preach  as  a  local  preacher  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  took  the  full  course  at  Boston  University,  School  of  Theology, 
graduating  with  the  class  of  '67.  In  1867,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  joined  the 
New  York  East  Conf.,  and  in  1872  joined  Providence  (New  Eng.  South)  Conf.,  hav- 
ing, among  other  appointments  New  London,  Providence  Trinity,  and  Pawtucket, 
First  Church.  One  of  many  revivals,  occurred  at  New  London,  when  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  persons,  professed  conversion.  While  he  was  stationed  at  Paw- 
tucket  a  long-standing  debt  of  $6,000  was  cancelled.  On  two  different  charges 
movements  were  begun,  which  resulted  in  the  purchasing  of  parsonages.  He  was 
superannuated  in  1866,  and  resides  in  Providence,  R.  I. 

CARLOS  BANNING  was  born  in  Lyme,  Ct.,  Nov.  10,  1819,  and  is  the  son  of  Phi- 
lemon and  Mary  (Millard)  Banning.  His  early  education,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  at  a  country  school  when  eight  years  old,  was  acquired  in  a  cotton  mill, 
where  he  spent  the  long  hours  from  daylight  till  8  P.  M.  An  elder  brother, 
however,  taught  the  children  arithmetic  on  Sundays,  progressing  "as  far 
as  The  Rule  of  Three."  When  a  lad  in  his  teens  a  broken  arm  gained 
in  a  chestnutting  expedition,  stopped  his  work  and  changed  the  whole 
course  of  his  life.  While  attending  the  school  of  Nelson  Goodrich  (then 
a  student  at  Wilbraham,  but  afterward  a  preacher  of  the  Providence  Conference) 
in  South  Glastonbury,  he  and  an  older  brother  were  converted  under  the  ministry 
of  George  May.  He  entered  Wilbraham  Academy,  studying  summers  and  teach- 
ing winters  to  supply  deficiencies.  In  this  way  he  fitted  for  college,  but  becoming 
convinced  of  his  duty  to  preach  the  gosoel,  he  entered  the  Biblical  Institute  at 
Concord  instead.  Graduated  in  1850,  and  united  with  the  old  Providence  Conference. 
He  was  married  April  6,  1852,  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  Pitman,  daughter  of  William  R.  Pit- 
man of  New  Bedford,  Mass.  His  first  charge  was  at  Federal  Street  (now  Broadway), 
Providence,  R.  I.,  as  its  first  regular  pastor.  In  all  his  pastorates  numbers  were 
added  to  the  churches;  North  Dighton  and  East  Bridgewater  especially  being  the 
scenes  of  extensive  revivals,  in  many,  instances,  whole  families  being  converted. 
In  the  spring  of  1866,  owing  to  his  own  ill  health  and  continued  sickness  in  his 
family,  he  was  obliged  to  take  a  supernumerary  relation  to  the  Conference,  but 
continued  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  churches  as  he  was  able.  In  four  cf  our  churches 
he  was  the  first  pastor.  Since  taking  a  superannuated  relation,  he  has  been  un- 
able to  preach,  but  has  been  a  member  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  First 
Church,  Newport. 

JOSIAH  TOWNE  BENTON  was  born  in  Tolland,  Conn.,  April  10,  1828.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  studied  a  few  months  in  a  private  institution. 
Books  have  been  his  chief  instructors  and  experience  his  school  for  a  life  time.  In 
early  manhood  he  began  a  business  career  but  soon  became  conscious  of  a  call  to 
preach.  In  May,  1853,  the  Quarterly  Conference  at  East  Glastonbury,  Conn., 
licensed  him  to  preach.  The  following  September  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
church  in  Tolland.  In  1854  he  joined  the  Conference.  His  appointments  were  Tol- 
land, Lyme  and  East  Lyme,  Lebanon;  New  Bedford,  Fourth  Street;  Taunton, 
First  Church;  Providence,  Centre  Church;  Stafford  Springs;  East  Greenwich; 
Providence,  Eddy  Street;  Centerville,  R.  I.;  Thompsonville;  Uncasville  and  Nian- 
tlc.  In  1879  failing  health  compelled  him  to  retire  from  active  work.  Nearly  all  his 
pastorates  were  marked  by  some  measure  of  revival  interest.  The  present  church 
edifice  at  Stafford  Springs  was  built  during  his  pastorate  there.  The  church 
property  in  several  other  charges  was  considerably  improved  under  his  administra- 
tion. For  more  than  twenty  years  he  has  resided  in  Niantic,  Conn. 

WILLIAM  McKENDREE  BRAY  was  born  in  Vassalboro,  Me.,  in  1821.  He  was 
educated  at  Vassalboro  Academy,  Me.,  Wesleyan  Seminary  and  Biblical  Institute, 
Concord,  N.  H.  He  was  converted  in  1848  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1849,  serv- 
ing as  pastor  of  Congregational  churches  several  years.  He  was  received  on  trial 
in  the  East  Maine  Conference  in  1856,  at  which  session  he  was  ordained  deacon. 
He  joined  the  Providence  (New  England  Southern)  Conference  in  1866  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  Little  Compton.  Among  other  places  he  has  been  stationed  at  Stafford 
Springs,  Woonsocket.  Provincetown.  Centenary,  etc,.  From  1876  to  1886  he  acted  as 
financial  agent  of  the  Conference  Seminary.  His  charges  were  all  blessed  with 
revivals,  the  most  extensive  being  in  Little  Compton,  Centreville,  R.  I.,  and  Mys- 
tic. He  was  made  supernumerary  in  1887  and  superannuated  in  1894.  meanwhile 
supplying  charges  in  New  Jersey  Conference.  He  is  now  residing  in  Navesink, 
N.  J.,  aiding  pastors  in  pulpit  and  revival  work.  Mr.  Bray  is  the  son  of  Rev.  Sulli- 
van Bray  for  sixty  years  a  well  known  minister  in  Maine.  Two  of  his  brothers, 
Horace  and  Charles,  were  members  of  the  East  Maine  Conference  until  called  to 
higher  service.  Three  of  his  daughters  married  ministers,  who  are  preaching  in  the 
New  Jersey,  New  England  and  New  England  Southern  Conferences,  respectively;  a 
brother-in-law,  Dr.  N.  M.  Wood,  rendered  excellent  service,  in  the  Baptist  Church 
during  his  life.  The  aggregate  of  their  ministerial  life  reached  207  years. 

BENJAMIN  K.  BOSWORTH  was  born  Nov.  16,  1825.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  Quinby  Seminary,  R.  I.  He  entered  the 
ministry  in  1851  and  joined  Conference  in  1856.  Among  his  important  charges  were 
Marshfield,  Provincetown.  Centenary,  Nantucket  and  Quarry  Street,  Fall  River. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  265 


Great  revival  interest  was  shown  at  East  Harwich,  Marshfleld,  Provincetown, 
Nantucket  and  Sagamore.  The  church  property  was  improved  at  Marshfleld,  South 
Harwich,  Cataumet  and  Quarry  Street,  Pall  River.  He  took  the  superannuate  re- 
lation in  1896,  after  forty-six  years  of  active  service  and  now  resides  in  Chil- 
mark,  Mass. 

DENISON  LEDYARD  BROWN  was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  Nov.  26,  1836.  He 
gained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Norwich,  and  Colchester,  Conn.,  and 
was  converted  at  Willimantic  campmeeting,  Sept.  6,  1860.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  H, 
21st  Regt.  Conn.  Volunteers.  August  8,  1862,  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant 
Sept.  5,  18G2,  and  was  discharged  because  of  physical  disabilities  incurred  in  the 
service.  He  joined  Conference  in  1865.  At  East  Thompson,  his  first  appointment, 
fifty-six  young  people  were  converted  the  first  winter.  This  included  nearly  all  the 
young  people  in  the  community.  At  Staffordville  in  the  winter  of  1870  there  were 
about  thirty  conversions.  There  were  revivals  both  winters  at  East  Glastonbury, 
1870-71.  At  Wapping,  in  the  fall  of  1874,  the  Methodist  and  Congregationalist 
churches,  united  in  revival  work,  and  owing  to  the  illness  and  death  of  the  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  c'hurch,  Mr.  Brown  served  as  pastor  of  both  churches  for 
some  four  months,  and  there  was  a  general  quickening  of  the  churches,  and 
about  forty  conversions,  one  of  whom  was  an  infidel  who  had  not  been  inside  a 
church  for  twenty  years.  During  the  years  of  '77-'79  at  Warehouse  Point  he  suc- 
ceeded in  straightening  the  tangle  in  church  property,  caused  by  the  loss  of  early 
records  and  gathering  in  and  caring  for  the  fruits  of  a  gracious  revival  that  pre- 
ceded his  pastorate  there.  In  1881 — forty  conversions  rewarded  his  work  at  Mys- 
tic. In  1882 — a  debt  of  $900  was  paid  and  the  church  was  remodeled  at  an  expense 
of  about  $1,000.  In  1884  at  North  Grosvenordale  the  interior  of  the  church  was 
remodeled,  at  an  expense  of  $1,500.  At  Arnolds  Mills,  in  1890,  a  Christian  Endeavor 
Society  with  quite  a  large  number  of  associate  members,  became,  with  three  ex- 
ceptions, all  active,  working  Christians,  in  1894  because  of  continued  ill  health  he 
took  a  superannuate  relation,  and  was  pent  by  Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  presiding 
elder  to  supply  at  Wanskuck  Mission,  Providence.  At  the  close  of  the  winter  of 
'96,  a  pleasant  roomy  chapel  was  dedicated  at  this  place  as  a  result  of  earnest 
work  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Brown.  This  chapel  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,600,  with  a 
debt  at  dedication  of  only  $525.  He  served  tor  thirteen  years  as  treasurer  of  Con- 
ference Claimants  Committee. 

WILLIAM  O.  CADY  was  born  in  Stafford,  Conn.,  May  8,  1821,  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  graduated  at  Wesleyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Mass.  After 
teaching  one  term,  he  entered  the  minii-try,  joining  the  Providence  Conference  in 
1847.  Some  pf  his  most  important  charges  were  Colchester,  Norwich,  Rockville, 
Burnside  and  Phenix;  and  in  all  these  appointments,  powerful  revivals  of  religion 
were  witnessed.  And,  indeed,  in  all  his  pastorates  sinners  were  converted  to  God. 
to  whom  be  all  the  glory.  "Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  spirit,  saith 
the  Lord." 

SETH  B.  CHASE  was  born  in  Paris,  Me.,  Nov.  30,  1818.  He  attended  Kents 
Hill  Academy  a,  part  of  two  terms,  but  he  sained  the  greater  part  of  his  knowledge, 
by  experience  in  the  different  charges.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  and  joined  the  Maine  Conference  in  1846,  but  poor  health  made  it  necessary  to 
discontinue  work  at  the  close  of  two  years.  Having  somewhat  again  regained 
health,  he  entered  the  active  ministry  again  in  1850,  remaining  ten  years  in  the 
Maine  Conference.  In  1870  he  joined  the  New  England  Southern  Conference.  Con- 
versions occurred  in  most  of  his  charges  especially  in  Strong  and  Norway,  Me., 
and  at  Harwich,  Mass.,  goodly  numbers  were  brought  "into  the  king- 
dom." He  was  superannuated  in  1880  at  the  age  of  62.  He  resides  at  present  at 
Rocky  Hill,  Conn. 

HENRY  W.  CONANT  was  born  in  Mansfield.  Conn.,  on  the  14th  of  January, 
1825.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town  and  also  by  private 
teachers.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen  and  joined  the  New  England 
Southern  Conference  in  1852,  being  stationed,  among  other  places,  at  Norwich. 
Conn.,  Sachem  Street  and  East  Main  Street.  Large  numbers  were  converted  at 
Bolton,  Somers,  and  East  Haddam,  while  conversions  occurred  in  every  charge. 
Under  his  leadership  a  new  church  was  built  at  Bolton,  and  at  Somers  the  church 
was  moved  to  a  new  location,  was  repaired  and  refurnished,  the  expenses  being 
all  provided  for.  While  he  was  stationed  at  Sachem  Street,  Norwich,  Conn.,  the 
church  debt  was  cancelled,  while  at  Uncasville  a  parsonage  costing  $3,300  was 
bought  and  paid  for.  Through  all  the  years  of  his  ministry  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  temperance  work,  and  at 'his  suggestion  in  1868  a  moversent  was  com- 
menced which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  Conference  Temperance  So- 
ciety and  served  for  several  years  as  its  president.  For  fifteen  years  he  acted, 
without  compensation,  as  secretary  of  East  Greenwich  Academy.  He  was  granted 
the  supernumerary  relation  in  1888. 

LEWIS  E.  DUNHAM  was  born  in  Marlborough,  Conn.,  Nov.  19,  1825.  He  was 
educated  at  Wilbraham  Academy  and  the  Theological  school  at  Concord,  N.  H., 
now  Boston  University.  He  joined  the  Providence  (New  England  Southern), 
Conference  in  1854.  The  largest  number  of  conversions  occurred  at  Niantic,  Conn., 
in  1866,  and  at  North  Grosvenordale,  Conn.,  in  1869.  At  Staffordville.  Conn.,  in 
1864-65  a  debt  of  $700  was  paid  off.  At  Moosup,  Conn.,  in  1870-71  a  church  was 
built.  He  was  granted  supernumerary  relation  in  1872  and  now  resides  in  Provi- 
dence. R.  I. 

JAMES  O.  DODGE  was  born  August  7,,  1838.  He  was  educated  in  a  country 
school,  three  months  in  a  year,  from  the  age  of  10  to  15  years.  He  entered  the 
ministry  in  1870.  Revivals  and  conversions  occurred  on  all  his  charges,  espec- 
ially at  Gurleyville,  Hockanum  and  Attawallgan.  At  the  last  named  place  75  were 
received  on  probation  in  one  day  and  about  125  during  one  year.  He  was  granted 
a  supernumerary  relation  in  1895,  and  resides  in  Norwich  'Town,  Conn. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

EDWARD  EDSON  was  born  in  Yarmouth,  Mass.,  Oct.  2,  1834;  was  blessed  with 
devoted  Christian  parents;  and  was  converted  when  fourteen  years  of  age  under 
the  labors  of  Rev.  Nahum  Tainter.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Rev.  Paul  Town- 
send,  presiding  elder.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  entered  Wes- 
leyan  University  in  1856  and  graduated  in  1860.  He  married  Miss  Almira  Cobb  of 
Barnstable.  He  joined  the  Providence  (New  England  Southern)  Conference,  1861. 
Has  been  stationed  at  Duxbury,  Ostervills.  North  Easton,  Vineyard  Haven.  Chat- 
ham, West  Dennis.  Wellfleet,  Taunton,  Mass. ;  Bristol,  Pascoag,  R.  I.  He  was 
presiding  elder  of  Norwich  District  from  1886-88.  His  whole  ministry  has  been 
blessed  with  a  good  work  of  grace,  and  a  goodly  number  of  conversions  on  nearly 
every  charge,  has  blessed  his  labors. 

SAMUEL  FOX  was  born  in  London,  Eng.,  March  21,  1813,  and  there  received  an 
academical  education.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  the  year  1843  within  the 
bounds  of  the  New  England  Southern  Conference  and  has  always  served  within 
its  limits.  From  1843  to  1860  he  continued  in  regular  active  service.  On  account  of 
failing  health,  he  then,  for  two  years  be2ame  superannuated,  but  returned  to 
active  work  in  1862  and  so  continued  till  1890;  from  that  date  he  has  been  on  the 
superannuated  list.  His  years  of  active  service  have  been,  under  every  variety  of 
circumstances,  expanded  to  45  years.  His  successes,  revivals  and  enterprises, 
have  been  varied  and  in  some  of  his  charges,  where,  in  the  general  sense,  there 
had  been  no  revival,  yet  the  estimate  of  the  standard  of  personal  piety  had  been 
largely  elevated,  not  only  throughout  the  church,  but  the  whole  community.  How- 
ever, in  its  broadest  sense  God  blessed  his  work  in  various  places  with  His  con- 
verting power.  At  Wellfleet  in  1850,  East  Glastonbury  in  1853,  and  in  Pascoag,  1857. 
wonderfully  did  the  Redeeming  Lord  manifest  His  saving  Grace. From  1863-68  he  had 
the  toilers  of  the  sea  under  his  care,  as  Chaplain  of  the  New  Bedford  Port  Society. 
Though  brief  periods  only  were  allotted  them  on  shore,  yet  he  was  permitted  to 
gather  in  some  four  score;  among  whom  were  two,  who  have  become,  one  a  min- 
ister, the  other  a  foreign  missionary.  He  now  resides  in  New  Bedford,  in  his 
eighty-fifth  year,  weak  in  the  body  but  strong  in  the  love  of  the  Saviour  he  has  so 
nobly  served. 

ALMON  E.  HALL  was  born  in  Stamford,  Vt.,  Dec.  6,  1846.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  then  went  to  Wesleyan 
Academy,  where  he  was  converted,  and  graduated  in  1867.  In  1868,  he  entered  Wes- 
leyan University  and  was  graduated  in  1872.  1872-73  was  spent  at  the  Theological 
School  of  Boston  University,  supplying  at  North  Dighton.  He  joined  Conference 
in  1873  and  was  stationed  at  Dighton.  In  1874  he  was  stationed  at  St.  Paul's, 
Providence,  and  in  1875-77  at  West  De.nnis,  where  during  the  summer  of  1877  his 
health  broke  down  and  for  ten  years  he  was  unable  to  do  much  manual  labor  and 
no  mental  work.  The  year  1876.  while  at  West  Dennis,  was  a  blessed  revival  year, 
and  scores  were  converted,  and  large  numbers  joined  the  church.  In  1877  he  went 
to  Williamstown,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  business,  where  he  holds  several  offices  of 
trust  and  honor  in  both  church  and  town.  He  represented  the  Second  Berkshire 
district,  in  the  legislature,  during  the  past  year.  He  was  superannuated  in  1878. 

EDWARD  B.  HINCKLEY  was  born  in  Osterville,  Barnstable  town  and  county, 
Mass.,  November  7,  1826.  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Oliver  and  Louisa  Crocker  Hinckley. 
He  was  led  to  remember  his  Creator  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  and  like  Timothy, 
from  a  child  he  learned  to  know,  and  love,  the  holy  Scriptures,  by  the  instruc- 
tions of  his  grandfathers,  grandmothers,  father,  and  mother,  and  faithful  Sabbath 
school  teachers,  and  ministers  of  the  Gospel  who  taught  the  way  cf  life,  and 
salvation,  according  to  the  Scriptures.  He  was  converted  and  baptized,  and  joined 
the  Church  about  1840.  soon  after  received  license  to  exhort,  and  after  a  season  in 
study  at  East  Greenwich  Academy,  and  with  Rev.  George  W.  Stearns  in  Barn- 
stable  and  at  Newberry,  Vt.,  with  Rev.  Osmon  C.  Baker,  in  1844  he  commenced 
to  preach  the  glorious  Gospel  at  Orleans,  Mass.  In  1S45  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Providence  (New  England  Southern)  Conference  at  New  Bedford  and  stationed  at 
Whittenton.  In  1847  he  married  Miss  Ruth  Freeman  Smith  of  Orleans.  Mass., 
and  was  ordained  deacon  and  stationed  at  Salem,  Conn.  He  was  suoerar>nuated 
in  1863  and  now  resides  with  his  daughter  in  Provincetcwn.  Mass.  His  life  has 
been  all  faithfully  consecrated  to  the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel. 

EDWARD  LAWRENCE  HYDE,  youngest  child  of  John  Hyde  and  Lucy  A.  Bur- 
rows, was  born  in  the  old  homestead  at  Mystic  Conn,  (now  oCd  Mystic),  May  21. 
1835.  The  Methodist  itinerants  were  always  welcome  guests,  to  his  parents,  and 
for  years  they  preached,  in  the  first  church  built  in  the  village  and  owned  by 
his  father  and  two  uncles.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  village  schools. 
at  the  Conference  Seminary,  and  at  Christ  Church  Hall,  Pomfret,  Conn.  After 
this  he  was  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  engaged  in  his  father's  business.  In 
1859  he  was  converted,  and  received  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  during 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  E.  L.  Stanley.  In  New  York  City  he  studied  architecture 
and  followed  this  with  an  art  course  under  Johannes  A.  Oertel  of  the 
National  Academy.  During  the  late  Rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  Connecticut 
cavalry,  but  on  account  of  a  bronchial  trouble  did  not  pass,  and  was  discharged. 
He  served  the  United  States  government  as  a  draughtsman  in  the  general  inspec- 
tor's office  in  New  York  City.  In  1868  he  was  called  to  the  ministry,  stationed  for 
three  years  at  South  Somerset,  Mass.,  where  the  church  was  remodeled  from  his 
design.  Entered  the  theological  school  of  Boston  University,  remained  three  years 
and  was  prime  mover  while  there  in  the  organization  of  the  "Praying  Band"  of 
that  school  which  for  years  did  efficient  work  in  and  around  Boston.  In  1874  he  mar- 
ried Imogene  Adele  Clarke,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  with  her  entered  upon  the 
work  in  South  Abington,  Mass,  (now  Whitman)  where  they  found  neither  church 
organization  or  church  building.  On  this  charge  and  at  Middletown,  R.  I.,  and 
Middleboro,  Mass.,  the  revival  spirit  was  effective  as  seen  in  the  ingathering  of 
many  souls.  He  took  the  superannuate  relation  in  1889  on  account  of  the  decline  of 
his  wife's  health. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  267 

WILLIAM  PENN  HYDE,  son  of  John  Hyde  and  Lucy  A.  Burrows,  was  born 
at  Mystic,  Conn.,  February  15,  1828  was  converted  in  1842,  and  for  fifty-five  years 
has  lived  a  consistent  life  as  a  devout  Christian  man.  He  attended  the  schools  of 
his  native  village,  was  at  the  Conference  Seminary  in  East  Greenwich  between 
two  and  three  years;  entered  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  but  his 
health  failed  and  he  did  not  graduate.  "Was  in  business  for  his  father  in  Mystic, 
and  also  was  in  business  there  in  manufacturing.  He  married  June  6,  1859,  Sera- 
phina  S.  Carr,  daughter  of  William  Carr  and  Temperance  Smith.  She  is  a  direct 
descendant  of  John  Tilley  and  his  wife,  Bridget  Vandervel,  passengers  in  the 
Mayflower,  1620,  and  also  of  Deputy  Governor  John  Green  of  the  Providence  Plan- 
tations. He  entered  the  ministry  1865,  and  was  stationed  at  South  Somerset,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  three  years.  In  1881  he  removed  with  his  family  (his  wife  and 
eight  children)  to  Santa  Clara,  Gal.,  and  is  now  resident  at  Palo  Alto,  where  two 
of  his  daughters  are  students  in  the  Leland  Stanford  University.  A  faithful  pas- 
tor and  earnest  preacher,  and  progressive  man. 

JOHN  D.  KING  was  born  in  Leicester,  Mass.  Jan.  21,  1822.  He  was  educated  at 
the  district  school,  and  a  few  terms  at  the  local  academy,  with  one  year  at  the 
Concord  Biblical  Institute  (after  having  preached  three  years).  He  was  li- 
censed as  an  exhorter  in  1845,  and  in  the  same  year  was  appointed  to  North 
Truro.  His  principal  appointments  were  Thompsonville,  New  London,  North 
Manchester,  Pawtucket.  Taunton  First  Church,  Fall  River  First  Church,  New- 
tonville  (New  England  Conference).  Chatham  and  Edgartown.  Revivals  occured 
at  Thompsonville,  Taunton,  Fall  River  and  Edgartown.  During  his  pastorate  at 
Manchester,  a  new  vestry  was  added  to  the  church,  also  the  First  Church,  Fall 
River,  was  raised  up  and  a  new  vestry  added  and  the  audience  room  was  remod- 
eled. Dr.  King  secured  the  lot  for  the  Quarry  Street  Church  and  raised  the  first 
$2,000  towards  its  erection.  He  took  the  supernumary  relation  in  1871.  In  1872  he 
established  a  Sunday  School  at  Cottage  City,  then  Vineyard  Grove,  and  secured 
the  first  regular  preaching  in  that  place  and  subsequently  organized  the  church 
provisionally  in  that  place.  He  took  the  superannuate  relation  1894.  after  forty- 
eight  years  of  active  service,  and  now  resides  in  Cottage  City.  Dr.  King  has 
won  a  reputation  as  a  professional  microscropist. 

GEORGE  H.  LAMSON  was  born  in  1839  in  Lubec,  Me.,  the  most  eastern  town 
in  the  United  States.  He  received  his  preparatory  course  at  East  Maine  Confer- 
ence Seminary  and  Wilbraham  Academy.  He  entered  Boston  University  School  of 
Theology  in  1869.  He  supplied  Hanover  charge  while  at  the  university,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  Brayton  Church,  Fall  River,  in  the  spring  of  1871.  Some  of  his  charges 
have  been  South  Somerset,  North  Dighton,  and  Mystic;  his  last  station  being 
South  Coventry  in  1892-93.  In  1894  he  was  granted  the  superannuate  relation  and 
now  resides  in  East  Hampton,  Conn.,  one  of  his  forme-  charges. 

DUDLEY  P.  LEAVITT  was  born  in  Northwood,  N.  H.,  Oct.  5,  1824.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town  in  the  New  Hampshire  Conference 
Seminary,  Northfield,  and  the  Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute,  Concord, 
N.  H.  He  joined  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  in  1850.  In  1866  he  was  made 
presiding  elder  of  the  Florida  District  of  the  South  Carolina  Mission  Conference, 
and  in  1886  he  joined  the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  being  stationed  at 
New  Bedford,  County  Street.  He  also  served,  among  others,  Providence,  Trinity 
and  Chestnut  Street,  East  Weymouth  and  South  Manchester.  He  has  been  par- 
ticularly successful  as  a  revival  preacher,  even  at  his  last  charges,  gracious  re- 
vivals blessed  his  labors.  He  was  granted  the  supernumerary  relation  in  1894  and 
now  resides  in  Melrose,  Mass. 

EDWARD  A.  LYON  was  born  in  Wellesley  (then  Needham).  Mass..  December 
18,  1815.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  with  a  few  months  at  Wilbraham. 
He  was  .converted  at  the  age  of  16  on  Old  Needham  Circuit,  New  England  Con- 
ference, October,  1832,  Abram  D.  Merrill,  preacher  in  charge.  He  was  licensed  to 
exhort  by  M.  P.  Webster  at  Union,  Maine  September,  1838.  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  at  the  Quarterly  Conference  at  East  Cambridge,  Mass.,  April,  1839;  joined 
the  New  England  Conference  on  trial  in  June  1839  When  this  Conference  was  di- 
vided in  1840  he  was  one  of  the  number  set  off  to  the  new  Providence  (New  Eng- 
land Southern)  Conference.  Of  the  effective  years  of  his  ministry  24  were  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, 7  in  Connecticut,  and  11  in  Rhode  Island.  On  most  of  his  charges 
gracious  revivals  prevailed  the  most  extensive  of  these  being  at  Waltham,  East 
Weymouth,  North  Easton,  Warehouse  Point  and  Newport,  Thames  Street.  Ihe 
church  at  Eastford  was  built  during  his  pastorate  in  1846  and  the  church  at  New- 
port, Thames  Street,  was  built  in  1863  through  his  efficient  labors.  He  was 
granted  the  superannuate  relation  in  1891,  and  resides  in  Acushnet,  Mass.— a 
comfort  and  helper  to  the  pastor  and  an  inspiration  to  the  people  of  the  place. 

W.  V.  MORRISON  was  born  near  West  Middlesex,  Mercer  County,  Pa.t  Jan.  23, 
1830.  His  early  years  were  spent  at  his  home  on  his  father's  farm.  He  graduated 
at  Allegheny  College  in  1854,  and  at  the  Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  N.  H..  in  1857. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  March,  1854  and  joined  the  New  England  Southern 
Conference  in  April.  1857.  Among  his  appaintments  were  the  following  churches: 
Wellfleet,  East  Weymouth,  Stafford  Springs,  Norwich,  Central  Church,  Bristol. 
Large  revivals  were  enjoyed  in  his  pastorates  at  East  Weymouth,  Norwich  and 
Bristol.  He  was  presiding  elder  of  Fall  River  district  from  1874  to  1877  and  of  New 
Bedford  district  from  1883  to  1886,  twelve  successive  years  president  of  Martha's 
Vineyard  campmeeting  association  and  five  years  its  agent.  In  1877  his  Alma 
Mater  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.,  and  in  1884  his  Conference 
honored  him  by  sending  him  as  delegate  to  the  General  Conference.  He  was 
President  McKinley's  teacher  for  two  yea-s  in  Niles,  Ohio. 

fQ*iFLMER    ^   NEWELL    was    born    in  Windsorville,    Conn.,    Aug.    19,    1864.    His 

miner,    Kev.   F.    C.    Jewell,   was  for  over  30  years   a   member   of   this    Conference. 

e   was   graduated   from    Wesleyan  University  in  the  class  of  1887,    and   began   to 


268  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

preach  (1888)  at  Osterville  and  Centreville,  Mass.  He  was  married  Dec.  4,  1889, 
to  Miss  Lucy  Phinney  Hallett  of  Centreville,  Mass.,  whose  patience  in  time  of 
trial  and  whose  courage  in  the  midst  of  despair  is  worthy  of  just  praise.  While 
stationed  at  East  Glastonbury  in  1891  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  stop 
preaching  for  a  time  in  order  to  regain  his  health.  He  served  as  Principal  of  the 
High  School  in  Terry ville,  Conn.,  a  part  of  the  year  1892,  but  was  obliged  to  re- 
sign the  position  because  of  nervous  trouble.  For  a  time  it  was  a  bitter  struggle 
between  life  and  death,  but  he  gradually  came  out  of  it,  and  was  at  last  able 
to  work  quietly  on  a  farm.  He  is  slowly  regaining  his  health,  and  hopes  and 
prays  that  he  shall  soon  be  able  to  do  effective  work  in  the  ministry. 

SAMUEL.  T.  PATTERSON  was  born  in  Monmouth  County,  Middletown,  N.  J., 
May  25,  1831.  His  opportunities  for  education  in  early  life  were  indeed  limited,  the 
district  school  affording  him  his  only  privilege.  When  but  a  lad  he  was  converted, 
and  at  once  was  possessed  with  the  conviction  that  he  was  called  of  God,  to  the 
ministry.  Against  the  same  he  fought  until  about  thirty  years  of  age,  when  he 
yielded  to  the  call,  sacrificing  all  worldly  interest.  In  the  year  1868  He  joined  the 
Providence  (New  England  Southern)  Conference,  and  has  served  among  other 
charges,  Middleboro,  Central  Falls,  Pawtucket,  Thomson  Church  and  Stoughton. 
Several  charges  were  blessed  with  gracious  revival  influence,  viz.,  Middleboro, 
where  over  one  hundred  were  received  on  probation;  Embury  Church,  Central 
Falls,  R.  I.,  where  many  were  gathered  in;  also  Stoughton,  Mass.,  and  Pascoag, 
R.  I.,  were  greatly  strengthened.  At  Li:tle  Compton,  R.  I.,  a  new  church  was 
completed,  and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Simpson.  A  new  church  was  built  at 
Central  Falls.  He  was  granted  supernumerary  relation  in  1894  and  now  resides  in 
Stoughton,  Mass. 

FRANCIS  D.  SARGENT  was  licensed  as  an  exhorter  at  Swallow,  Vt.,  in  1861. 
He  entered  the  Union  Army  and  at  the  close  of  the  war,  renewed  his  license  at 
Auburn,  N.  Y.  He  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher  at  Empire,  Mich.,  1868.  In 
1869  he  joined  the  Genesee  Conference  and  was  sent  to  Bradford,  Pa.,  to  a  d.vided 
and  scattered  church,  and  since  then  it  has  seemed  his  special  work,  to  recon- 
cile divisions  and  in  various  ways  prepare  the  way  for  his  successor.  He  joined 
the  New  England  Southern  Conference  in  1875,  preaching  at  Fairhaven,  Scltuate, 
Mapleville  and  Glendale,  and  at  Nantasket,  etc.  The  early  years  of  his  ministry 
were  very  successful  in  work  among-  young  men  and  many  revivals  were  enjoyed. 
While  at  Mapleville  and  Glendale  and  Fairhaven,  revivals  occured,  during  which 
goodly  numbers  professed  conversion.  At  Nantasket  he'  instituted  services  for  the 
summer  visitors,  resulting  in  a  regular  congregation  of  about  two  hundred.  While 
at  Marshfield  in  1892  he  suffered  from  nervous  prostration,  from  which  he  has 
never  fully  recovered.  He  was  made  supernumerary  in  1897  and  resides  at  Rock- 
land,  Mass. 

JOHN  F.  SHEFFIELD  was  born  Jan.  8,  1823.  He  received  the  most  of  his  educa- 
tion at  Norwich  and  at  Wilbraham  Academy.  He  entered  the  New  England 
Southern  Conference  in  1848.  Some  cf  his  important  charges  were:  HazardvXe, 
Manchester,  Provincetowr,  Centenary  Church,  Vineyard  Haven,  and  Providence, 
Asbury  Church.  Revival  interest  was  manifested  in  nearly  all  his  charges;  but  in 
a  dozen  instances,  or  more,  the  revivals  were  very  powerful.  In  fifteen  charges,  im- 
provements were  made,  including  the  payment  of  debts,  the  placing  of  three  bells 
in  different  churches,  etc.  At  East  Hartford  and  Sagamore,  parsonages  were 
secured,  and  while  he  was  at  Provlncetown,  Centenary  Church  was  tegun.  In 
1890  he  was  made  superannuated  ard  resides  in  Danielson,  Conn. 

J.  H.  SHERMAN  was  born  in  Eastford,  Conn.,  in  1839.  His  early  educational 
advantages  were  limited,  but  he  made  the  most  of  opportunities  by  pursuing  his 
studies  at  home.  He  was  licensed  to  presch  in  1865  and  joined  the  Minnesota  Con- 
ference in  1866.  His  work  was  on  frontier  circuits  receiving  more  or  less  aid 
from  the  missionary  society.  The  five  circuits  served  in  that  Conference,  aggre- 
gated forty-two  different  regular  preaching  places.  In  seventeen  of  these  places 
he  preached  the  first  sermon  ever  delivered  in  the  neighborhood.  There  were 
revivals  on  all  these  circuits.  The  most  extensive  were  on  Howard  Lake,  Silver 
Lake  and  Brockway  circuits.  In  two  of  these  instances  there  were  conversions  in 
every  family  in  the  neighborhood  and  in  several  other  places  revivals  were  nearly 
as  successful.  In  1872  he  was  transferred  to  the  New  England  Southern  Confer- 
ence. There  were  revivals  of  general  interest  in  his  pastoral  charges  at  Hope- 
vllle,  Voluntown,  Hebronville,  Dodgeville,  Millville,  and  Versailles.  He  has  been 
a  superannuate  since  1888. 

GEORGE  W.  STEARNS,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Reading,  Vt.,  Dec.  25,  1814.    He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  the  Norwich  and  Newbury  seminaries,   and   m   t 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,    holding    also    a    diploma    from    the 
Penn  Medical  University  of  Penn.    He  was  converted  at  Newbury  (Vt.),  Seminary, 
Oct.   5,   1834,   its   eldest  son.    He  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal   Church   on   proba- 
tion October  9,  was  licensed  to  exhort  on  the  West   Windsor  Circuit   June  14,    «p, 
and  to  preach  June  15,  1836,  and  the  itinerary  in  July,  1837,  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference.    Received  appcintments  in  four   places,    and    then   was    transferred    ' 
the  Providence  Conference  in  June,  1842,  and    stationed    at    Barnstable,    Mass.,    and 
various  other  places  in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut   and   Rhode   Island.       Revivals 
were  enjoyed  at  Barnstable,  Wellfleet.  West  Thompson.   Holmes  Hole  and   Bristo 
His  last   pastorate   was   Wareham,   when  his  health  failed,   compelling  a  cessation 
of   his   traveling  in   1856.    He   commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  New  Bedford 
In   1857,    where    he   remained   twenty-two  years.    He  acted  as  chaplain  for  the  alms 
house  of  the  city  for  five  years;  and  filled    the    pulpit    of    the    Baptist    Church    at 
South  Dartmouth  for  one  year.    He  was  also  accustomed  to  fill  vacancies  in  most  c 
the   churches  in  the  city  and  surrounding  towns.      He     is    at     present     settled   in 
Winchester,    at   50  Washington    Street.    The   oldest    itinerant  of  the   New   England 
Southf-rn   Conference. 


SOU  I' EN  1R  HISTORY.  269 

EDWIN  S.  STANLEY  was  born  in  Thompson  (now  Putnam  City),  Conn.,  May 
1,  1819.  He  is  a  son  C'f  Sylvester  and  Nancy  Nichols  Stanley.  His  mother,  who 
was  a  devoted  Christian  and  Methodist,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  moved  to 
East  Woodstock,  where  there  were  no  Methodist  society.  She  was  accustomed 
to  invite  Methodist  preachers  to  hold  meetings  at  her  house.  The  final  result 
was  a  Methodist  Church  established  there.  While  Mr.  Stanley  was  clerking-  in 
a  store  in  Ashford,  Conn.,  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  Erastus  Benton,  he  joined  the 
church  as  Eastford  <m  probation.  He  was  married  in  1842  to  Miss  Laura  Carpen- 
ter and  remained  several  years  in  West  Thompson,  Conn.,  as  an  architect  and 
builder.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1847  and  joined  the  Conference  in  1858. 
While  he  was  stationed  at  Arnold's  Mills  a  parsonage  and  horse  sheds  were  built, 
mostly  by  his  own  hands,  while  twenty  or  more  were  added  to  the  church.  During 
his  pastorate  at  South  Manchester  a  parsonage  was  built.  Mr.  Stanley  furnished 
plans  for  the  Stafford  Springs  Church  edifice  and  for  the  Thames  Street  Church, 
Newport;  also  for  the  parsonage  at  Newport.  Marlboro  Street.  He  was  granted 
the  superannuate  relation  in  1889  and  now  resides  in  Highland  Park,  Conn. 

MICAH  JONES  TALBOT,  D.  D.,  was  born  Feb.  25,  1821.  While  a  student  at  Wes- 
leyan  University,  Dec.,  1842.  was  given  an  Exhorter's  license  by  Dr.  Joseph  Hol- 
dich.  pastor  of  the  University.  After  graduation  in  1843.  while  studying  at  home  in 
Maine,  he  received  invitations  to  the  pastorate  of  a  Congregational  Church  in  St. 
Stephen,  New  Brunswick,  to  the  principalship  of  Kent's  Hill  Seminary,  and  to  a 
tutorship  at  Wesleyan  University;  but  soon  after  the  close  of  that  year,  he  en- 
tered the  pastoral  work  in  the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  at  South  Som- 
erset. In  1845  he  was  admitted  to  probation  and  in  due  time  was  received  to  mem- 
bership and  advanced  to  orders.  For  appointments'  see  the  Year  book.  While  at 
Fairhaven.  in  1847,  he  was  called  to  the  charge  of  the  new  Seminary  of  the  Ver- 
mont Conference.  The  call  was  not  accepted.  At  close  of  pastorate  at  Nantucket 
declined  election  to  a  professorship  in  McKendree  College,  Illinois.  At  Vineyard 
Haven  a  great  revival  took  place,  resulting  in  the  formation  of  the  North  Tisbury 
Church,  and  the  conversion  of  Rev.  Henry  D.  Robinson  of  our  Conference  with 
many  others.  At  St.  Paul's,  Fall  River,  he  was  active  in  the  "Fremont  Campaign," 
and  for  two  years  was  the  writer  of  the  editorial  leaders  in  the  Fall  River  News. 
At  Newport  he  was  practically  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools;  also  at  Bristol; 
and  when  that  office  was  legally  established  in  Newport,  was  the  first  occupant 
of  the  post,  being  called  to  it  in  1865.  At  Newport  a  sweeping  revival  occurred,  and 
nearly  eighty  persons  were  admitted  to  the  Church  at  one  service.  From  this  pas- 
torate, was  called  to  be  principal  of  East  Greenwich  Academy.  The  next  pastoral 
service  was  at  Bristol,  in  1864-65;  in  the  midst  of  the  second  year  came  the  call  to 
Newport  above  referred  to.  While  here,  supplied  Somerset,  wrote  editorials  for  two 
periodicals,  besides  editing  the  Newport  Daily  News,  in  addition  to  the  duties  of 
Superintendent.  Five  years  in  the  Presiding-elders>hip  were  followed  by  five  years 
in  the  pastorate;  and  these  by  seven  more  in  the  Presiding-eldership,  ending-  in 
1886.  Dr.  Talbot  has  been  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  several  times  and  for 
many  years  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the  affairs  of  our  Confer- 
ence, having  held  about  every  position  of  honor  and  trust  that  the  Conference 
could  give. 

JAMES  ORWIN  THOMPSON  was  born  in  Waldo,  Waldo  County,  Me.,  June  9, 
1834.  He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  that  town,  Vassaltoro 
Academy,  Fairfield  Seminaiy  and  graduated  at  M.  G.  B.  Institute,  Concord,  N.  H., 
in  June,  1866.  In  the  same  year  he  joined  the  Maine  Conference,  preaching  there 
until  1871,  when  he  joined  the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  being  stationed 
at  Vineyard  Haven,  Plymouth,  Middletown,  etc.  Good  revival  spirit  was  mani- 
fested at  Nantasket  and  Little  Compton.  At  Nantasket,  the  parsonage  was  im- 
proved and  enlarged  and  the  title  secured  to  the  church,  and  the  church  refres- 
coed,  repainted  and  refurnished.  He  was  superannuated  in  1883  and  resides  at 
Keyser,  W.  Va. 

WILLIAM  TURKINGTON  was  born  in  Lurgan.  Ireland  in  1818.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  place  together  with  the  assistance  of  a  private 
teacher  at  home.  His  father  being  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  intended 
to  educate  his  son  for  that  Church,  but  reverses  came  which  caused  those  inten- 
tions to  t>e  given  up.  About  this  time  the  Methodist  preachers  came  and  preached 
in  dwelling-houses.  He  attended  these  meetings  and  was  converted  and  appointed 
Class-Leader.  He  preached  two  years  in  connection  with  the  Irish  Conference, 
and  then  came  to  the  United  States  in  1843,  and  joined  New  England  Southern  Con- 
ference in  1845.  Some  of  his  most  important  charges  were  Middletown.  Moodus, 
Hockanum  and  Willimantic.  In  all  his  minstry,  he  never  employed  an  evangelist, 
but  conversions  occurred  at  different  times  throughout  the  year.  Large  revivals 
occurred  at  Old  Mystic  and  Willimantic.  During  his  pastorate  at  Mansfield  and 
Old  Mystic,  the  churches  were  built  and  at  Windsorville  the  upper  part  of  the 
church  was  finished.  The  building  had  been  raised  two  years  and  only  the  vestry 
finished.  At  Lyme  the  church  was  improved  with  new  furniture,  etc. 

DANIEL  A.  WHEDON  was  born  in  Brantingham,  Lewis  County,  N.  Y., 
December  16,  1823.  He  attended  school  in  Cazenovia;  graduated  from  the  Wes- 
leyan University  in  1845,  and  joined  the  New  England  Conference  on  probation  in 
1846.  In  1847  he  was  transferred  to  the  Oneida  Conference,  now  Central  New  York, 
and  the  first  year  there  was  on  a  circuit  with  E.  G.  (now  Bishop)  Andrews  as 
junior  preacher.  Among  the  appointments  in  that  Conference  were  Ithaca.  First 
Church,  Auburn,  First  -Church  and-  First  Church,  Utica.  In  1866  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Providence  Conference,  and  has  occupied  several  of  its  leading  pul- 
pits. He  has  held  many  of  the  highest  honors  within  the  gifts  of  the  Conference. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  nine  General  Conferences.  In  1881  he  was  delegate  to 
the  Ecumenical  Conference  in  London,  and  in  1884  delegate  to  the  Centennial  Con- 
ference at  Baltimore.  He  was  a  member  and  secretary  of  the  committee  that 


2-0  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

prepared  the  present  Hymnal  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  educa- 
tional matters  he  was  a  trustee  of  Cazenovia  Seminary  for  ten  years;  since  1871 
he  has  been  a  trustee  of  Wesleyan  University,  and  for  the  last  ten  years  has 
been  president  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  East  Greenwich  Academy.  He  has 
contributed  a  number  of  articles  to  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  two  of  which 
on  "The  Printed  Greek  Text  of  the  New  Testament,"  gave  the  fullest  account 
of  It  that  had  been  published  in  this  country.  For  ten  years  he  furnished  for 
the  Sunday  School  Journal  Quarterly  articles  on  "Methodism  in  the  Lessons," 
and  for  thirty  years  he  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  Zion's  Herald  and  other 
church  papers.  He  wrote  the  notes  on  Collossians  and  Philippians  and  most 
of  those  on  the  Epistles  of  Peter  for  "Whedon's  Commentary."  In  1887,  in  con- 
nection with  Rev.  J.  S.  Whedon,  prepared  the  volumes  entitled  "Essays,  Re- 
views and  Discourses,"  and  "Statements  Theological  and  Critical,"  by  D.  D. 
Whedon,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.  At  the  Centennial  of  New  England  Methodism,  in  Bos- 
ton, in  1890.  he  read  a  paper  on  "Methodist  Theology."  In  1869  he  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Wesleyan  University.  He  now  resides  in  East 
Greenwich,  R.  I. 

JOHN  W.  WILLETT  was  born  in  Hanson,  Mass.,  May  22,  1824.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  that  town  and  at  South  Braintree  Academy.  In 
his  early  life  he  was  a  staunch  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  Universalism,  and  in 
both  public  and  private  maintained  them  by  argument,  until  he  was  at  last  van- 
quished by  the  simple  testimony  of  a  young  boy,  at  a  service  held  in  the  M.  E. 
Church  at  South  Scituate.  He  at  once  entered  the  ministry  in  1853,  being  sta- 
tioned at  Yarmouthport.  A  few  of  his  appointments  were:  Chatham;  Taunton. 
Central  Church;  Rockville;  Providence,  Power  Street;  Pawtucket,  Woonsocket  and 
Middletown.  He  was  ever  a  revival  preacher,  conversions  occurring  on  all  his 
charges.  The  church  at  Rockville  was  finished  and  dedicated  during  his  pastorate 
there  and  the  church  at  Hope  Street,  Providence,  was  begun  and  a  parsonage 
erected  while  he  was  stationed  there.  He  held  two  of  the  highest  honors  in  the 
grift  of  the  Conference,  namely,  Presiding  Elder  (of  New  Bedford  District,  18T9-82), 
and  delegate  to  the  General  Conference.  He  also  served  faithfully  and  well  in 
the  following  offices:  treasurer  cf  the  Conference  funds,  of  the  board  of  trustees, 
of  the  fund  for  disabled  clergymen,  and  of  the  Conference  Seminary  in  some  of  its 
most  critical  years.  He  was  superannuated  in  1893  and  died  at  Taunton,  Aug.  21, 
1897,  leaving  a  widow  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Alfred  Messinger  of  Taunton.  Mr. 
Willett  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  strong  leaders  in  the  Conference. 

DANIEL  WISE  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  England,  January  10,  1813,  edu- 
cated in  Portsmouth  Grammar  School;  removed  to  the  United  States  in  1833,  and 
joined  the  New  England  Conference  in  1840.  There  he  served  churches  at  Ips- 
wich, Lowell  and  Springfield  and  some  other  appointments  that  are  now  in  the 
New  England  Southern  Conference,  such  as  Nantasket  and  Hull.  When  the 
Providence  Conference  was  separated  from  the  New  England  he  remained  with 
the  former,  serving  the  leading  churches  in  Providence,  Fall  River,  New  Bed- 
ford, etc.  1852-56  he  was  editor  of  Zion's  Herald.  He  has  edited  many  of  our 
church  and  Sunday  School  periodicals.  He  edited  and  published  the  first  Sunday 
School  paper  ever  issued  by  Methodism.  Perhaps  American  Methodism  has 
produced  no  more  voluminous  writer  than  Dr.  Wise.  Nearly  one  hundred  vol- 
umes have  come  from  his  pen,  the  aggregate  sale  of  which  has  been  consider- 
ably over  one-half  a  million  copies.  Who  can  estimate  the  blessed  influence  of 
such  a  life?  Probably  no  Sunday  School  library  in  Methodism  is  without  some 
of  his  volumes.  Among  his  many  volumes  we  may  mention  the  following:  Life 
of  Lorenzo  Dow,  (1840).  Questions  on  Romans  (1843),  McGregor  Family,  (1845),  Be- 
nevolent Traveller,  (1846),  Guide  to  the  Savior,  (1847),  The  Path  of  Life,  (1847),  Bridal 
Greetings  (1850).  Young  Man's  Counsellor  (1850),  Young  Ladies'  Counsellor  (1851),  My 
Uncle  Tobey's  Library,  twelve  volumes  (1853),  Living  Streams  from  the  Fountain 
of  Life  (1854),  Popular  Objections  to  Methodism  Considered  and  Answered  (1856), 
Hollywood  Stories,  six  volumes  (1872).  Pen  Pictures  from  the  Life  of  John  Wes- 
ley (1874).  Uncrowned  Kings  (1875,  last  edition  1886),  Sketches  and  Anecdotes  of 
American  Methodists  (1883),  Our  Missionary  Heroes  and  Heroines  (1884),  Some  Re- 
markable Women  (1887).  Faith.  Hope.  Love  and  Duty  (1891).  The  dates  of  the 
above  are  of  the  last  edition  in  many  crses. 


REV.  E.  B.  HINCKLEY. 
(Superannuate.) 


REV.  J.  O.  DODGE.  ' '  -") 
(Stipernimierary.) 


REV.  W.  H.  STETSON. 
(Deceased.     i8£2-*97.) 


DECEASED    MEMBERS    OF    OUR    CONFERENCE. 
L.  HARLOW.  D.  M.  ROGERS.  J.  M.  WORCESTER.  JOHN  COOFER. 


The  dates  indicate  the  years  spent  in  the  ministry. 


DISTINGUISHED  METHODIST  PREACHERS  FORMERLY  MEMBERS  OF  OUR  CONFERENCE. 
J.  BENSON  HAMILTON.  ANGELO  CANOLL.  N.  T.  WHITAKER. 

(Deceased.) 


OUR  THREE   PRESIDING   ELDERS. 

REV.  T.  J.  EVERETT.  REV.  E.  C.  BASS.  REV.  G.  H.  BATES. 

New  Bedford  District.  Providence  District.  N crunch  District. 

A  biographical  sketch  of  each  presiding  elder  will  appear  in  his  own  district's  volume. 


THE    CONFERENCE    ENDORSEMENT     OF     THE 
SOUVENIR    HISTORY. 


That  there  may  be  no  misunderstanding  as  to  the  meaning  of  the 
line  at  the  bottom  of  the  title  page,  "With  Conference  Consent  and 
Approval,"  we  quote  here  from  the  Conference  Year  Book  of  1897-. 

(From  Minutes  cf  the  Second   Day— Page  17). 

"HISTORY  OF  CHURCHES.  R.  C.  Miller  announced  his 
purpose  to  prepare  a  history  of  the  Churches  in  the  Conference,  and 
requested  that  a  special  committee  be  apointed  to  consider  the  sub- 
ject and  report.  On  motion  of  W.  H.  Butler,  the  Presiding  Elders 
were  requested  to  nominate  such  a  committee,  to  be  composed  of 
three  members  from  each  District.  The  Presiding  Elders  nominated 
M.  J.  Talbot,  G.  W.  King,  B.  F.  Simon,  J.  G.  Gammons,  J.  I.  Bar- 
tholomew, W.  F.  Davis,  W.  C.  Newell,  C.  M.  Melden  and  W.  I. 
Ward.  The  nominations  were  confirmed.'' 

(Prom  Minutes  of   the  Sixth   Day— Page  33). 

"SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  G.  W.  King,  for  the  Committee  on 
Souvenir  History  of  the  Conference,  presented  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  we  approve  the  general  plan  of  the  Souvenir 
History  of  the  Conference  proposed  by  Brother  R.  C.  Miller,  and 
promised  him  our  hearty  co-operation  in  the  preparation  and  distri- 
bution of  his  work." 


P.  S.  —  It  may  be  of  interest  to  the  general  public  also  to  know  that  one- 
half  of  the  profits  from  the  sale  of  this  SOUVENIR  HISTORY  are  to  be  divided 
between  the  Conference  Claimants'  (old,  worn-out  ministers)  Fund,  and  the 
Conference  Home  Missions'  (the  weak,  struggling  churches)  Fund.  It  is  thus 
seen  that  the  publishing  of  this  work  is  not  a  private  enterprise  wholly,  but 
one  of  general  financial  interest  to  the  Conference. 


VOLUME  II. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


New  England  Southern  Conference 


IN    THREE    VOLUMES 


VOL.    I.    NEW    BEDFORD    DISTRICT 

VOL.   II.   NORWICH  DISTRICT 

VOL.    III.    PROVIDENCE   DISTRICT 

VOLUME  ll.  NORWICH  DISTRICT 


COMPILED    AND    EDITED     BY 

REV.  RENNETTS  C.  MILLER,  S.  T.  B. 

Pastor,    Methodist   Episcopal   Cburcb,    Nantasket,    Mass. 

HISTORICAL    SKETCH  OF  CONFERENCE   BY     REV.    M.   J.   TALIiOT,   I).   D. 


IT   CONTAINS   SPECIAL    HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

OF    THE     DISTRICT,      THE      CAMPMEETING      ASSOCIATIONS,     THE      DISTRICT      EPWORTH 
LEAGUE,    THE    VARIOUS    SOCIAL    UNIONS,    AND    OTHER    ORGANIZATIONS;    HIS- 
TORICAL    SKETCH     OF      EACH    CHURCH,    WITH     OVER    FOUR     HUNDRED 
ENGRAVINGS    OK    CHURCHES,     PARSONAGES,    PASTORS,     PASTORS' 
WIVES,    SUNDAY-SCHOOL     SUPERINTENDENTS,     EPWORTH 
LEAGUE  PRESIDENTS,    PROMINENT    LAYMEN,   ETC. 
OVER    THREE    HUNDRED    PAGES. 


PICTURES  AND    BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    Of   THE    SUPERANNUATES,  ETC. 


1897  —  PUBLISHED  —  1897 
WITH  CONFERENCE    CONSENT  AND  APPROVAL,  BY 

REV.   RENNETTS  C.   MILLER, 

« 
NANTASKET,  MASS. 


COPYRIGHT,  1897, 

BY 
REV.  RENNETTS  C.  MILLER. 


I     DEDICATE     THIS     VOLUME 

Uo  fl&£  dfatber, 

IN     GRATEFUL     RECOGNITION     OF     HIS     MANY     NOBLE     QUALITIES 
OF      HEART     AND     HEAD;      AND     ESPECIALLY     FOR     THE 
SUPREME     HOPEFULNESS    AND    UNSELFISHNESS 
THAT    HAVE    ALWAYS    CHARACTER- 
IZED    HIS     LIFE. 


EDITORIAL  NOTES. 

After  another  long  waiting,  we  send  forth  Volume  II.  of  this 
History  to  the  public.  No  one  regrets  more  than  the  Editor  this 
long  delay.  After  careful  examination  of  the  historical  matter  of 
this  volume,  we  are  disposed  even  more  fully  to  the  opinion  expressed 
in  the  Editor's  Introduction  of  Volume  I.,  that  "the  story  of  the 
struggles  and  triumphs  of  the  churches  of  our  Conference  will  send 
a  new  impulse  of  holy  zeal  into  thousands  of  lukewarm  hearts,  and 
inspire  renewed  loyalty  to  our  Church." 

In  this  volume  we  furnish  several  more  pictures  of  the  deceased 
members.  There  are  still  many  more  whose  pictures  we  have  been 
unable  to  obtain. 

The  church  sketches,  with  one  or  two  exceptions  (Pascoag,  etc.), 
have  been  written  by  the  present  pastors.  Otherwise  they  wrill  be 
marked  thus  *  *.  Occasionally  the  Editor  has  added  important 
historical  facts  that  have  come  to  him  fully  authenticated. 

While  all  the  specially  written  articles  are  valuable,  still  we  wish 
to  call  special  attention  to  the  article  by  the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev. 
George  H.  Bates.  It  is  a  very  valuable  and  interesting  "Introduction" 
to  this  volume.  We  are  sure  the  friends  of  the  Conference  will  greatly 
appreciate  his  splendid  article. 

We  are  glad  to  announce  that  Volume  III.  is  in  press  and  is  being 
pushed  rapidly,  and  we  hope  to  have  it  issued  about  the  2Oth  of  March. 

We  are  glad  to  announce  that  Rev.  E.  C.  Bass,  D.  D.,  Presiding 
Elder  of  Providence  District,  will  furnish  an  "Introduction"  for 
Volume  III. 

Again  we  wish  to  thank  Rev.  G.  H.  Bates,  the  Presiding  Elder, 
for  his  kindly  assistance  and  wise  counsel  in  many  things,  in  the  pub- 
lishing of  this  volume.  Again  we  cheerfully  acknowledge  the  in- 
valuable assistance  of  Rev.  W.  I.  Ward.  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D., 
has  been  of  much  help  also,  by  his  kindly  advice. 


*       INDEX   OF    VOLUME  II. 

THE    CHURCHES. 

Attawaugan     4  North    Grosvenor    Dale 102 

Burnside    S  Norwich— No.   Main   St 105 

Colchester    13  Norwich  Town   108 

Danielson     17  Norwich,    Trinity    111,117 

East    Blackstone    21  Old    Mystic    125 

Eastford     23  Oneco    129 

East    Glastonbury,    Conn 20  Pascoag     131 

East   Hampton    31  Portland     135 

East   Hartford    124  Putnam    140 

East  Thompson    36  Quarryville     143 

East    Woodstock    38  Rockville    146 

Gale's   Ferry    41  South   Coventry    150 

Gardner    Lake     44  South   Glastonbury    154 

Glendale    (R.I.) 69  South  Manchester    158 

Greene    45  Square    Pond    170 

Hazardville    50  Stafford  Springs    164 

Hockanum    119  Staff ordville     173 

Hopevale     15  Sterling-     215 

Jewett    City    54  Thompsonville    176 

Lyme    56  Tolland    206 

Manchester    60  Uncasville    180 

Maplevllle   (R.    I.)    66  Vernon     212 

Mashapaug  72  Volun  town     184 

Millville     77  Warehouse   Point    189 

Moodus    79  Westerly     193 

MOOSUD     82  West   Thompson    196 

Mystic     86  Willimantic    200 

New    London     92  Willington     74 

Niantic    99  Windsorville    203 

Noank     89 

SPECIAL    ARTICLES. 

Bates,  Rev.   Geo.    H. — Biog.    sketch ]  Martha's   Vineyard  Camp-Meeting.  ..XVII 

Conference    Home     Missions XXVII  Martha's  Vineyard  Revival  of  '53.XXXIX 

Conference    Indorsement    246  Norwich    Dist.    Epworth    League 216 

Cummings,      Rev.     S.      S.,      and .  His  Nutting,  Rev.  J.  H.,  and  His  Work.XLIII 

Work    XLV  Pastoral   Record    236 

East    Greenwich   Academy    XXI  Superannuates,    Biographies    217 

Evangelists    XLVIII  Supti  numeraires,    Biographies    217 

Fall    River  Deaconess   Home XXXIV  Tregaskis,  Rev.  Jas.— Biog.    sketch. XLV  [[I 

Gardner,    Mrs.    Harmony    139  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. XLI 

Hamlen,  Rev.   G.   M.  and   His  Work. XLVIT  Woman's    Home   Mission'y    Society. XXIX 

James,   Rev.  J.  H.,  and  His  Work... XLV  Willimantic  Camp-Meeting    2 

Jones,    Rev.    E.  F.— Biog.    sketch.. XLVIII 

SPECIAL  PICTURES. 

Asbury   Rock   28    Jones,    Rev.    E.    F XLVIII 

Bates,  Rev.  G.  H.,   Presiding  Elder 1    Local    Preachers    235 

Bentley,   Rev.    D.    N.,    and   wife 105    Martha's    Vineyard   Auditorium    XXI 

Blakeslee,    Prin.    F.    D XXII  Martha's    Vineyard    Camp-Meeting,    50 

Chautauqua  Circle    (Gale's    Ferry) years  ago.  XVIII,  XIX,  XX 

Cummings,    Rev.    S.    L XLV    Nutting,    Rev.    J.    H XLIV 

Deceased    Members    224-228    Perkins,    Alba    3 

East   Greenwich   Academy   Faculty.XXIII    Presiding    Elders    234 

East  Greenwich   Acad.    Students.  ..XXVII    Providence    Deaconesses    XXXII 

Everett,  Mrs.   T.  J XXVIII    Providence   Deaconess   Home XXXII 

Fall    River    Deaconesses XXXVII    Richardson    Triplets    24 

Fall    River    Deaconess    Home XXXV    Superannuates    XVI,   230-31,   233 

Flint,   John   D XXXVI    Supernumeraries     

Gardner,    Mrs.    Harmony    139  XVI,  XVII,  XVIII,   230-231 

Gould,    Rev.   John  B XXXIX    Sockancsset    School   for   Boys XLIV 

Hamlen,   Pres.  G.  M.,    and  wife XLVII    Trtgaskis,    Rev.     Jas XLVIII 

James,   Rev.    J.   H XLVI    Tregaskis.    Mrs.     Jas. XLII 

James,    Mrs.    J.    H XLII    Willimantic  Camp-Meeting  Views    2,3 

DISTINGUISHED    METHODIST    MINISTERS  FORMERLY  MEMBERS  OF  OUR 

CONFERENCE. 

Bates,    L.    B 228  Nutter,    C.     S 

Binney,    Amos    (deceased)    228  Payne,    C.    H 

Chapman,  J.   A.  M 229  Pitblado.  C.   B 

Dorchester,    Daniel    232  Raymond,    B.    P 

Gallagher,    C.    W 229  Reed,  Geo.   E 

Goodell,    C.    L 229  Steele,    W.    F 

Gracey,    S.    L 228  Stevens,    Abel    233 

Haynes,  Emory  J 229  Taylor,    E.    M 229 

Hatfield,    R.   M.    (deceased) 228  Taylor,    E.    T.    (deceased) 228 

Hutchinson,    B.    W 232  Townsend,    L.    T 232 

Jordan,    D.    A 229  Trafton,  Mark  228 

Kimball,   H.    D 229  Upham,    S.    F 232 

MacDonald,    Wm 229  Wagner,  F.   J 232 

McChesney,    Ensign    228  Worth,   W.    T 229 

*— For  a  general  index  of  the  three  volumes  see  close     of    Vol.    III. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  NORWICH  DISTRICT. 
By  Rev.  George  H.  Bates,  Presiding  Elder. 

The  section  embraced  in  Norwich  district  is  rich  in  historic  in- 
terest, both  in  civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs. 

It  has  been  truthfully  said  that  no  portion  of  the  country  was 
stocked,  in  its  first  settling,  with  a  higher  type  of  manhood.  Among 
the  leaders  in  this  were  the  sons  of  Bradford  and  Brewster  from  Ply- 
mouth, and  Huntington,  Hyde  and  Leffingwell  from  Saybrook; 
men  who  sought  the  wilderness  to  be  rid  of  the  adventurers  who  had 
accompanied  and  annoyed  their  fathers,  and  whose  names  have  ap- 
peared among  our  most  respected  Methodist  ministers. 

As  illustrative  of  the  character  and  influence  of  these  early  set- 
tlers, it  appears  that  the  "pedigrees  of  no  less  than  four  Presidents  con- 
verge" on  the  city  that  gives  the  district  its  name.  Of  these,  two — 
Generals  Grant  and  Hayes — were  trustees  of  the  Methodist  church. 
It  was  this  section  that  through  Moses  Cleaveland  settled  the  "West- 
ern Reserve,"  its  principal  city  receiving  from  him  its  name,  and  that 
gave  the  country,  in  Governor  Trumbull,  its  "Brother  Jonathan,"  as 
Washington's  most  trusted  counsellor.  The  spirit  of  the  early  settlers 
is  revealed  in  their  exceptional  treatment  of  the  famous  tribe  of  Mo- 
hegan  Indians  who  dwelt  in  unbroken  peace  and  rest  in  honored 
sepulchres  among  them.  Their  church  has  often  been  supplied  by 
our  preachers,  notably  by  Dr.  Henry  Torbush,  who  was  their  vener- 
ated pastor  for  fourteen  years. 

Such  citizens  as  President  Gilman  of  Johns-Hopkins,  Donald  G. 
Mitchell,  Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourney  and  E.  C.  Stedman,  in  the  literary 
world,  and  John  F.  Slater,  the  donor  of  the  munificent  gift  of  a 
million  dollars  to  the  Freedmen,  and  C.  H.  Mallory,  of  our  Mystic 
church,  of  steamship  fame,  in  business  affairs,  have  maintained  the 
early  traditions  of  force  of  character. 

So  too  this  section  is  of  great  interest  to  the  Methodist  antiquary. 
Jesse  Lee  testified  that  he  found  here  "more  encouragement,"  and 
it  would  appear  a  kindlier  soil  than  in  some  portions  of  the  East. 
Here  Methodism  early  took  root  and  became  a  strong  evangelizing 
power. 

Confirmatory  of  this,  the  succeeding  histories  will  show  that  at 
least  two  societies  were  formed  as  early  as  1790 — the  one  at  Spencer 
street,  Manchester,  and  that  at  Tolland;  and  probably  a  third  at  Square 
Pond;  and  that  two  of  the  first  five  Methodist  meeting-houses  in  New 
England  were  erected  in  this  territory,  namely,  at  Square  Pond  (now 
Crystal  Lake)  and  at  Tolland.  Dr.  R.  W.  Allen,  an  acknowleged  au- 
thority, said:  "I  think  the  'Pond  church'  was  a  little  ahead  of  the  Tol- 
land in  point  of  time;  and,  if  so,  it  was  the  fourth  Methodist  church 
erected  in  New  England."  These  were  built  in  1792. 


X  SOU  I' EN  I R  HISTORY. 

But  in  another  particular  this  district  was  distinctly  foremost,  as 
the  first  parsonage  erected  by  our  people  in  the  East  was  at  Square 
Pond.  This  distinctive  consideration  for  its  pastors  Norwich  district 
still  maintains,  and  to-day,  with  fifty-three  parsonages,  many  of  them 
fine  and  commodious,  it  is  believed  leads  the  conference,  while  it  has 
a  reputation  for  respecting  and  generally  caring  for  its  ministers  not 
elsewhere  excelled. 

The  earliest  New  England  camp-meeting  held  by  our  people  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge  was  also  at  historic  Square  Pond,  El- 
lington, in  the  year  1806;  thirteen  years  before  the  one  at  Cape  Cod 
referred  to  in  Vol.  I.  as  probably  the  first.  From  the  first  our 
churches  have  been  warm  supporters  of  evangelistic  camp-meetings, 
of  which  many  have  been  held  in  different  parts  of  the  district,  cul- 
minating in  Willimantic  meeting,  the  history  of  which  appears  in 
another  place. 

Of  the  first  six  conferences  held  in  New  England,  three  met  with 
societies  now  in  Norwich  district,  while  a  fourth  convened  at  Wilbra- 
ham  just  across  its  border.  The  first  of  these  conferences  met  at 
Tolland,  August  n,  1793;  the  second  at  New  London  July  15,  1795, 
and  the  third  at  West  Thompson,  September  19,  1796.  This  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  early  Methodism  had  good  standing  and  in- 
fluence in  these  parts. 

It  does  not  appear  to  be  understood  that  George  Whitefield  in- 
troduced Methodist  preaching  in  Eastern  Connecticut  as  early  as 
1745.  At  this  time  he  visited  Norwich,  New  London  and  other 
towns.  This  was  followed  by  two  other  evangelistic  tours  that  carried 
"consternation"  to  the  more  conservative  of  the  "standing  order,"  but 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  no  societies.  He  visited  and  became 
much  interested  in  the  Indian  school  at  Lebanon,  and  in  1764  we  find 
Rev.  Samson  Occum,  the  famous  Indian  preacher,  accompanying 
Mr.  Whitefield  and  entering  into  his  labors. 

Among  the  points  .of  romantic  interest  to  Methodists,  the  ancient 
elm  at  Center  Stonington  should  stand  first.  It  bears  a  tablet  indi- 
cating that  under  it  Whitefield  preachfu  one  of  his  marvelous  dis- 
courses July  19,  1747.  Here  commemorative  services  have  recently 
been  held,  in  \vhich  one  of  our  pastors  in  that  town  gave  the  histori- 
cal address.  Of  scarcely  less  interest  is  the  great  rock  in  East  Glas- 
tonbury,  where  Bishop  Asbury  spoke  in  1793.  Another  is  the  in- 
scribed stone  in  Griswold  that  marks  the  spot  where  the  saintly  Ezra 
Withey,  a  native  of  that  town,  delivered  a  memorable  sermon  in  the 
open  air.  Mr.  Withey  had  a  remarkable  career  of  usefulness,  having 
enjoyed  the  privilege  of  leading  Bishop  Bowman,  then  one  of  his 
classmates  at  Cazenovia,  into  peace  with  God,  and,  while  pastor  in 
New  York,  Bishop  Newman  into  the  ministry.  To  these  might  be 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XI 

added  the  Ellington  Academy,  where  Dr.  R.  S.  Rust,  as  principal, 
began  his  educational  career,  in  1842;  and  "Hickory  Plain,"  Mont- 
ville,  where  Lorenzo  Dow,  the  eccentric  but  widely  known  preacher 
of  this  section,  received  President  Jackson  in  1833,  when  on  his  way 
to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  the  Uncas  monument  in  the  Mohegan  ceme- 
tery at  Norwich. 

Among  the  prominent  preachers  that  this  district  has  given  to 
our  work,  not  heretofore  mentioned,  we  name  Rev.  Erastns  Went- 
worth,  D.  D.,  who  was  born  in  Stonington  in  1813.  Dr.  Wentworth 
had  a  distinguished  career,  having  been  pastor  of  several  important 
societies,  missionary  to  Foo  Chow,  editor  of  "The  Ladies'  Repository" 
and  president  of  McKendree  College.  Thompson  claims  the  eloquent 
Dr.  Jefferson  Hascall,  who  served  the  New  England  Conference  as 
presiding  elder,  and  wrote  the  touching  hymn,  "My  latest  sun  is 
sinking  fast."  Norwich  was  the  home  of  the  famous  Rev.  Billy  Hib- 
bard,  born  in  1771,  near  the  "Star  farm";  Edward  Hyde,  the  devout 
presiding  elder;  Henry  E.  Hempstead,  chaplain  of  the  state  prison 
of  Massachusetts  and  of  the  39th  regiment  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
and  Edward  A,  Manning,  who  was  secretary  of  the  New  England 
conference  for  twenty-nine  years.  East  Hartford  was  the  birthplace 
of  Rev.  Ira  M.  Bidwell  and  Dr.  C.  D.  Hills;  East  Windsor  of  Ralph 
W.  Allen,  presiding  elder  of  this  district,  then  called  New  London, 
in  1843-46;  Salem  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Bradford,  a  direct  descendant  of  the 
Pilgrim  governor;  and  South  Windsor  of  Rev.  E.  F.  Clark,  the  his- 
torian of  Norwich  Methodism.  David  N.  Bentley,  a  native  of  North 
Stonington,  Norris  G.  Lippitt  of  Killingly  and  Prof.  E.  S.  Lippitt  of 
Woodstock  were  local  preachers  of  great  influence  and  effectiveness. 

Two  families  of  this  district  have  been  prolific  of  Methodist 
ministers,  those  of  Daniel  Dorchester  and  Erastus  Benton.  Mr.  Dor- 
chester was  born  in  Vernon  in  1790,  was  a  renowned  presiding  elder, 
serving  four  different  districts,  and  the  father  of  Dr.  Daniel  Dor- 
chester, of  national  fame,  two  of  whose  sons  are  successful  preachers. 
Mr.  Benton  was  a  native  of  Tolland.  As  a  pastor,  his  work  was  at- 
tended by  remarkable  awakenings,  and  as  a  presiding  elder  he  was 
called  to  serve  this  district  two  terms.  He  also  has  been  succeeded 
by  able  preachers  in  two  generations. 

Rev.  Lewis  Bates,  born  within  the  bounds  of  this  conference,  in 
1780,  and  an  early  preacher  on  this  district,  is  of  a  family  that,  in 
three  generations,  has  given  seven  preachers  to  our  work,  four  of 
whom  have  served  on  Norwich  district. 

Three  Methodists  have  been  sent  to  Congress  from  within  our 
borders.  The  last  of  these,  the  Hon.  John  R.  Buck  of  East  Glaston- 
bury,  is  now  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Wilbraham  Acad- 
emy. 


CONFERENCE  RESOLUTIONS. 

Not  wishing  to  reprint  Dr.  Talbot's  article  in  this  special  three 
volume  edition,  inasmuch  as  it  may  be  seen  in  Vol.  I  of  this  edition, 
the  Editor  thinks  that  some  of  the  Conference  resolutions  of  former 
years  will  read  with  interest  to  many  of  our  people.  The  resolutions 
that  are  passed  by  our  Annual  Conferences  are  supposed  to  represent 
the  general  sentiments  of  the  members  at  the  time.  These  have  been 
compiled  from  the  annual  printed  Minutes  and  Year  Books.  The  year 
is  given  with  each  one. 

RESOLUTIONS  ON  SLAVERY. 

1855- 

Slavery  has  seized  upon  general  government  and  its  deadly  influ- 
ence is  felt  in  all  its  departments.  It  makes  our  Presidents,  elects  our 
Congressmen,  appoints  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  and  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  our  ministers  to  foreign  powers.  In  short,  it 
controls  our  Legislatures,  our  Executives,  our  Judiciary,  our  Diplo- 
macy, our  Army,  our  Navy  and  all  our  great  National  interests;  and 
as  though  even  this  were  not  enough  it  utters  its  falsehoods  in  the 
census  and  sends  them  out  under  the  authority  of  the  government  to 
impose  upon  the  ignorance  and  credulity  of  the  nation.  Such  atro- 
cious political  turpitude  and  hypocrisy  the  world  has  never  seen  since 
the  days  of  the  Slaveholding  Republic  of  Ancient  Greece. 

But  this  is  not  all — would  to  God  that  it  were!  Slavery  in  our 
country  exists  in  the  very  presence  of  Christianity,  simply  because 
Christianity  is  not  so  administered  as  to  abolish  it,  and  Christian 
churches  and  slave  barracoons, protracted  meetings  and  slave  auctions, 
gospel  ministers  and  negro  traders,  revivals  of  religion  and  proslavery 
political  caucuses;  Bibles,  hymn  books,  disciplines  and  chains,  whips 
and  thumbscrews,  pious  prayers  and  cries  of  distress,  shouts  of  praise 
and  wails  of  despair,  collections  for  the  support  of  missions  abroad, 
and  the  sale  of  Christ's  Church  at  home  to  supply  the  means;  a  holy 
indignation  against  infanticide  and  Sutteeism  in  India,  and  the  forci- 
ble separation  of  Christian  families  at  home;  crowds  of  devoted  wor- 
shipers with  prayer  books  in  hand  passing  through  the  streets  to  the 
house  of  God  on  one  day,  and  coffles  of  manaicled  slaves  under  the 
whip  of  the  soul  drivers,  destined  for  the  shambles  of  the  far  South, 
defiling  along  the  same  streets;  the  next — all  strangely  mingled  to- 
gether, in  one  country. 

1860. 

The  right  or  wrong  of  slavery  is  no  longer  a  question  in  debate 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XIII 

with  us.  We  all  agree  in  the  belief  that  it  is  an  institution  conceived 
in  sin,  and  brought  forth  in  iniquity.  And  surely  the  atrocious  villainy 
of  this  system  was  never  more  manifest  than  at  the  present  time,  when, 
in  violation  of  all  law,  human  and  divine,  that  feature  of  it,  which 
even  our  National  Legislature  has  branded  as  piracy,  shows  itself  un- 
blushingly,  and  even  defiantly,  in  our  country. 

SAMUEL  C.  BROWN, 

Chairman  of  Committee. 
1862. 

Resolved,  That  we  pledge  to  our  Government,  to  our  Army  and 
our  Navy  our  deepest  sympathy  in  this  hour  of  national  peril,  and  that 
we  fervently  pray  that  the  honor  of  our  Flag,  the  integrity  of  our 
Government  and  the  perpetuity  of  o-ur  Union  may  be  maintained  as  a 
demonstrative  proof  of  the  vitality  of  republican  institutions. 

1865. 

Resolved,  That  we  gratefully  acknowledge  the  Divine  Blessing 
which  has  given  us  able  generals  of  late,  and  crowned  our  arms  with 
such  wonderful  successes  that  treason  ha.s  been  smitten  in  its  strong- 
holds, and  is  now  staggering  to  its  doom,  while  our  loyal  and  victori- 
ous Army  is  marching  on  in  triumph. 

ON  THE  STATE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 
1864. 

In  considering  the  struggle  that  is  now  going  on,  we  are  con- 
vinced that  the  Judge  of  all  the  Earth  is  accomplishing  His  wise  pur- 
poses in  the  chastisement  of  our  land,  and  in  its  deliverance  from  an 
evil  which  we  have  long  deplored,  and  which  by  peaceful  means  we 
were  never  able  to  reach.  *  *  *  The  chief  magistrate,  Abraham 
Lincoln,  has  our  confidence  and  shall  have  our  support.  W^e  believe 
with  him  that  slavery  is  the  cause  of  the  rebellion,  .and  that  no  peace  is 
honorable  or  can  be  lasting  until  it  is  removed. 

1866. 

In  the  terrible  destructiveness  of  the  late  war,  both  to  the  van- 
quished and  the  victors,  we  humbly  recognize  the  sword  of  the  Lord, 
vindicating  His  justice  by  punishing  the  whole  nation  foritsmany  years 
of  guilty  complicity  with  the  sin  of  slavery.  By  the  light  of  that  sword, 
the  nations  have  read  the  truth  that  there  is  no  immunity  for  sin  and 
that  National  righteousness  is  the  only  shield  against  the  stroke  of  the 
avenging  angel. 


RESOLUTIONS  ON  TEMPERANCE. 

1855- 

Resolved,  That  as  a  body  of  ministers  we  will  continue  our  efforts 
to  prevent  the  traffic  in  and  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  by  faithfully  en- 
forcing our  rules  where  occasion  may  require,  and  reasoning  upon 
temperance  as  well  as  a  judgment  to  come. 

Resolved,  That,  inasmuch  as  moral  suasion  alone  is  not  sufficient 
to  remove  the  evil  of  intemperance,  we  will  not  only  preach  upon  the 
subject,  but  wage  a  continual  warfare  upon  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
drinks  as  a  beverage  by  moral,  religious  and  political  action,  until  vic- 
tory is  gained. 

1861. 

After  a  careful  consideration  of  the  present  state  of  the  cause  of 
temperance,  your  committee  feel  that  there  never  was  a  time  in  its  his- 
tory when  the  ministers  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  were  more  impera- 
tively called  to  speak  out  boldly,  fearlessly  and  faithfully  in  its  advo- 
cacy. Though  through  a  long  series  of  years  the  friends  of  the  cause 
of  temperance  have  labored  earnestly  for  its  success,  intemperance  is 
still  the  great  evil  of  the  time. 

1865. 

Intemperance  is  one  of  the  greatest  evils  of  our  time,  an  evil  that 
not  only  prostrates  men  in  the  dust  literally,  but  destroys  their  intellect, 
benumbs  their  affections,  sears  their  conscience  and  hardens  the  heart 
so  as  to  unfit  them  to  meet  any  of  the  obligations  of  life.  While, 
therefore,  in  religion  lies  the  great  life  giving  artery  from  which  tem- 
perance derives  its  life  blood,  temperance  on  the  other  hand  is  one  of 
the  nutritious  elements  of  religion.  Your  committee  are  confident  that 
there  is  now  no  reason  for  discouragement  or  relaxation  of  efforts  in 
this  cause.  *  *  * 

We  see  and  deplore  the  evils  that  exist  among  us.  We  are  pained 
to  know  that,  among  professedly  good  men,  there  is  a  lack  of  interest, 
and  in  some  cases,  of  loyalty  to  Temperance  principles. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  the  organization  of  juvenile  tem- 
perance societies  in  connection  with  our  Sunday  Schools,  in  which  the 
children  and  youth  may  pledge  themselves  to  total  abstinence. 

That  the  practice  of  patronizing  hotels,  stores,  or  saloons  where 
intoxicating  beverages  are  sold,  is  a  gross  inconsistency  on  the  part 
of  the  ministry  and  membership  of  our  church. 

That  we  recommend  to  both  ministers  and  laymen  a  renewed  ef- 
fort to  circulate  a  pure  Temperance  literature  among  the  people. 

(The  temperance  resolutions  of  1865  occupy  about  two  and  a  half 
pages  of  the  printed  Conference  Minutes.) 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XV 

1868. 

We  are  unqualifiedly  opposed  to  the  license  system  and  to  the  en- 
actment of  any  statute  which  gives  the  authority  of  law  to  the  greatest 
crime  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

RESOLUTIONS  ON  TOBACCO. 
1865. 

Resolved,  That  as  the  habitual  use  of  tobacco  is  injurious  to  the 
human  constitution,  laying  the  foundation  of  many  of  the  diseases  that 
afflict  the  community,  and  in  a  great  measure  neutralizing  the  effects 
of  medicinal  agents — the  taste  for  tobacco  being  the  same  in  kind  as 
the  taste  for  alcoholic  drinks,  often  leading  to  their  use — we  therefore 
recommend  that  in  all  our  Sunday  Schools  vigorous  efforts  be  made 
to  instil  into  the  minds  of  the  young  anti-tobacco  principles. 

1868. 

We  believe  the  habitual  use  of  tobacco  leads  to  and  encourages 
the  use  of  more  active  stimulants;  while  in  itself  it  is  not  beneficial, 
but  highly  injurious  to  the  system.  Christian  men  cannot,  therefore, 
indulge  in  its  use  except  it  be  medicinally,  without  serious  loss  of 
moral  and  religious  power. 

MISCELLANEOUS  RESOLUTIONS. 
1860. 

Resolved,  That  this  Conference  request  the  General  Conference  at 
its  next  session  to  provide  in  the  Discipline  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for 
Lay  Representation  in  the  Annual  and  General  Conferences,  upon  such 
basis  as  that  Conference  shall,  in  its  wisdom,  deem  equitable  and  just. 

1867. 

Resolved,  That  we  cannot  be  blind  to  the  increasing  demands  for 
a  high  standard  of  intellectual  culture  in  the  ministry,  and  are  highly 
gratified  at  the  successful  efforts  made  during  the  past  year  to  secure 
the  means  for  meeting  these  claims  by  the  endowment  of  our  literary 
institutions. 

Resolved,  That  we  do  earnestly  commend  those  who  think 
themselves  railed  to  the  office  of  the  ministry  to  maintain  unflagging 
study,  both  before  and  after  entering  their  high  vocation. 

Resolved,  That  while  we  tenaciously  defend  the  essential  doc- 
trines of  Methodism,  we  hail  with  joy  the  extension  of  Biblical  and 
physical  truth. 


REV.    GEORGE.    H.     BATES. 

Presiding  Elder  Norwich  District. 

-irfRev.  G.  H.  Bates  was  born  \\\  Topsfield,  Mass.,  May  3rd,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  Rev.  G.  W.  Bates 
of  the  New  England  Conference.  After  High  School  and  Wefleyan  Academy  courses  he  pursued  special 
studies  and  taught  for  several  years.  He  gave  much  attention  to  the  higher  branches  of  sacred  music,  and 
some  of  his  songs  have  had  a  large  sale. 

For  eleven  years  he  served  our  school  boards  and  several  years  as  Superintendent  of  public  schools. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  was  promoted  four  times  and.  subsequently" was 
commissioned  by  Governor  Andrews  Lieutenant-Colonel. 


While  pastor  at  North  Easton  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  where  lie  served  as  House  Chairman  of 
two  committees  and  led  in  securing  advanced  temperance  legislation. 

His  principal  work  as  an  author  is  an  article  published  by  the  United  States  Government  on  "  Useful 
Marine  Algse." 

He  joined  this  Conference  on  trial  in  1870,  in  the  largest  class  ever  received,  and  lias  been  pastor  of  eight 
churches  —  one  of  them  two  terms.  In  most  of  these  he  has  had  revivals,  especially  at  North  Pighton.  For 
ten  years  he  has  been  stationed  on  Norwich  district,  serving  East  Main  Street,  Norwich,  and  Kockville  charges. 
At  the  former  place  he  served  on  the  Board  of  Directors  and  Building  Committee  of  the  Y.  M.  ('.  A.  For  six 
years  he  has  been  on  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  State  Sunday-school  Association. 

On  the  re-organization  of  the  Conference  Home  Missionary  Society,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Hoard 
and  has  taken  much  interest  in  securing  funds  for  its  work. 

In  1895  he  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder,  and  in  1896  was  elected  to  General  Conference. 

Mr.  Bates  is  thoughtful  and  sympathetic,  and  is  justly  popular  among  the  churches  of  his  district. 


WILLIM ANTIC  (COXX.)  CAMP-MEETfNG. 

By  Rev.  J.  S.  Wads  worth. 

From  the  early  days  when  the  Norwich  District  was  still  known  as 
"New  London  District,"  camp-meetings  were  held,  and  formed  an 
important  factor  in  the  life  of  the  "societies"  throughout  the  district. 
From  1853  records  of  these  meetings  have  been  carefully  kept.  In 
that  year  Rev.  Anthony  Palmer  became  Secretary  of  the  West  Kil- 
lingly  Camp-Meeting  and  prefaced  his  records  with  the  remark  that 
it  was  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  a  permanent  record  of  the  camp- 
meetings  on  this  district  had  not  been  kept.  "They  have  been  held," 


VIEW  OF  CARTWRIGHT  AVENUE. 

he  says,  "one  or  more  each  year  for  many  years  past."  He  acknowl- 
edges that  "for  a  number  of  years  past  they  have  not  been  marked 
with  that  degree  of  interest  and  usefulness  as  formerly,"  but  he  assured 
the  people  of  that  time  that  there  was  no  good  reason  for  entertaining 
the  idea  that  "the  day  of  camp-meetings  has  gone  by." 

Until  1860,  two  meetings  were  held  each  year  in  different  parts  of 
the  district.  At  a  preachers'  meeting,  held  in  Willimantic  in  1859,  Dr. 
W.  K.  Otis,  Lyman  Jordan  and  William  Turkington  were  appointed 
to  "see  if  a  more  central  location  could  be  found  for  a  District  Camp- 
Meeting."  The  committee,  with  rare  good  judgment  recommended 
the  present  location  of  the  Willimantic  Camp  Grounds,  situated  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Willimantic,  being  near  the  intersection  of 
the  railroads  running  from  East  and  West,  and  from  North  and  South, 
making  it  easy  to  reach  the  meeting  from  all  parts  of  the  district.  The 
natural  beauties  of  the  ground  made  it  a  general  favorite  with  all 
who  saw  it.  The  beautiful  grove  of  oak  and  chestnut  trees,  surrounded 
by  a  slightly  rising  ground,  made  a  natural  amphitheatre  which  might 
well  have  been  destined  for  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord.  So  well  pleased 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


ALBA  PERKINS. 
Supt.    of    Camp-Meeting. 


were  those  who  met  that  first  year  upon  these  grounds  that  the  follow- 
ing committee  was  appointed  to  purchase  the  land  "for  a  permanent 
camp  ground  for  the  New  London  District,"  viz. :  J.  D.  King,  L.  D. 
Bentley,  W.  K.  Otis,  Lyman  Jordan  and  J.  B.  Wood.  The  grounds 

were  purchased  and  consecrated  that 
year  with  a  most  successful  meeting. 
The  Secretary,  Anthony  Palmer,  re- 
cords the  "unusual  degree  of  divine 
influence"  which  attended  all  the  ser- 
vices, resulting  in  the  conversion  of 
seventy-five  persons.  The  largest 
audience  was  variously  estimated  at 
from  five  to  six  thousand.  There  were 
about  fifty  tents  upon  the  ground. 
The  next  year,  1861,  the  meeting 
"was  much  larger,  hard  times  not- 
withstanding, and  the  whole  number 
of  tents  was  seventy." 

The  record  says:  "As  for  weather, 
the  Lord  never  gave  any  better 
for  a  similar  purpose ;  only  one  service  at  the  stand  was  interrupted  by 
rain."  The  weather  was  an  important  consideration  in  those  days,  be- 
fore any  "buildings"  were  on  the  ground.  Frequently  the  rain  dis- 
persed the  congregation  from  the  stand  and  several  preaching  services 
were  held  in  tents. 

The  first  permanent  building  was  erected  in  1864,  "a  rough  build- 
ing for  the  storing  of  straw,  tent  frames,  etc."  Also,  another  building 
\vas  erected  that  year  for  the  stand,  with  a  single  room  for  holding  the 
meetings  of  the  Associa- 
tion. Year  by  year,  as  new 
and  more  commodious 
buildings  appeared,  the  old 
^'society  tents"  were  folded, 
and  like  the  Arabs  would 
silently  steal  away.  Not 
one  of  the  tents  remains 
upon  the  ground,  yet  still 
in  all  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions of  the  Association  the 
term  is  retained,  and  the 
old-time  discipline  of  the 
"terns"  is  preserved.  There 
are  now  about  200  build- 
ings upon  the  ground. 


•TENT"    ON   WESLEY   CIRCLE. 


4  SOU  I 'EN  11!  HISTORY. 

According  to  the  Constitution,  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district  is 
president  of  the  Association.  Each  of  the  presiding  elders  has  sought 
to  make  the  Willimantic  Camp-Meeting  a  power  for  good  throughout 
the  District.  The  most  distinguished  preachers  from  our  own,  as  well 
as  from  other  conferences,  together  with  bishops  of  the  church,  have 
preached  with  very  great  power  at  these  meetings.  The  services  of 
evangelists  have  sometimes  been  used  in  the  altar  services.  Revs.  I. 
T.  Johnson,  Thomas  Harrison,  Drs.  W.  H.  Boole  and  L.  B.  Bates  have 
rendered  service  in  this  capacity.  The  present  President,  George  H. 
Bates,  has  introduced  as  features  of  the  meeting  an  "Old-Time  Ser- 
vice," which  is  highly  appreciated,  recalling  associations  of  former 
years,  both  in  its  singing  and  addresses.  Also,  the  "Laymen's  Day"  is 
proving  a  popular  and  profitable  service.  The  attendance  upon  the 
meetings  of  this  Camp  Ground  is  not  less  than  in  former  years,  and 
the  character  of  the  meetings  has  been  less  changed  than  in  almost 
any  other  camp-meeting  in  New  England,  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  situ- 
ation, removed  from  the  more  fashionable  Summer  resorts.  Each  year 
witnesses  a  large  number  of  conversions,  and  the  churches  on  the  Dis- 
trict a  quickened  religious  life  as  a  result  of  the  meetings.  May  the  day 
be  far  distant  when  Willimantic  Camp  Meeting  shall  cease  to  witness 
these  annual  gatherings  from  the  societies  throughout  the  District. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ATTAWAUGAN,  CONN. 

A  little  while  before  the  first  class  was  formed,  Mr.  Elisha  Baker, 
wife  and  family  took  up  their  residence  in  the  village  of  Ballouville, 
adjoining  Attawatigan,  having  removed  from  West  Thompson,  where 
they  held  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

On  arriving  at  their  new  home,  they  found  no  church  and  no  means 
of  grace  save  occasional  preaching  by  various  independent  preachers 
roaming  about.  Knowing  the  piety  of  the  Baker  family,  some  one 
said  to  the  head  of  that  household,  "Mr.  Baker,  what  will  you  do  here, 
without  a  church?"  To  this  Mr.  Baker  replied,  "I  have  a  little  church 
at  home,  sir,  and  we  have  a  prayer  meeting  every  night."  The  ques- 
tioner, not  quite  understanding  what  was  meant,  requested  the  privi- 
lege of  attending,  both  for  himself  and  neighbors.  This,  of  course,  was 
granted,  and  the  Baker  homestead  was  too  small  to  hold  the  crowds 
who  attended. 

At  this  stage,  the  Rev.  Lewis  B.  Bates,  then  pastor  of  the  church  at 
West  Thompson,  was  appealed  to,  and  immediately  formed  the  first 
class.  This  was  in  1859.  At  one  time  the  class  enrolled  forty-two 
members.  Mr.  Bates  preached  in  the  place  once  a  month,  and  a  Sab- 
bath school,  with  varying  interest,  was  maintained. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  5 

This  was  the  beginning  of  work  which  has  been  a  blessing  to  many 
unto  eternal  life.  The  spirit  of  worship  seemed  to  have  spread  until 
there  was  such  a  demand  for  a  suitable  sanctuary  that  in  the  year  1870 
the  Attawaugan  Company,  who  own  all  the  mill  property  in  the  sev- 
eral villages  hereabout,  generously  came  to  the  rescue  and  built  a 
commodious  chapel,  capable  of  seating  over  two  hundred  persons.  As 
Attawangan  was  the  larger  village  and  the  home  of  the  majority  of 
worshipers,  the  chapel  was  built  in  this  place. 

Although  the  members  of  the  Attawaugan  Company  were  Congre- 
gationalists,  they  gave  the  people  their  choice  as  to  denominational 
affiliation.  At  first  it  was  a  Union  Church,  the  preachers  of  the  sur- 
rounding churches  supplying  the  pulpit.  The  church  edifice  was  dedi- 


ATTAWAUGAN   CHURCH. 

cated  in  the  Autumn  of  1870,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Merriman,  D.  D.,  of  the 
Second  Congregational  Church,  Norwich,  preaching  the  sermon.  A 
Sunday  School  was  organized  in  January,  1871,  of  which  Joseph 
Wheaton,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Putnam,  was  the  first 
superintendent. 

The  Union  Church  was  not  a  success.  Rarely  does  one  prosper. 
Hoping,  doubtless,  for  better  things,  a  request  was  presented  to  the 
Rev.  G.  W.  Brewster,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Norwich  District  of  the 
Providence  (now  New  England  Southern)  Conference,  to  secure 
the  appointment  of  a  Methodist  preacher  for  the  year  1871-72.  Rev. 
Nelson  Goodrich  was  appointed. 

The  work  so  prospered  under  the  labors  of  this  honored  servant  of 
Cod  that  in  the  year  1872,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church,  it  was  voted, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


thirty  to  one,  to  proceed  to  the  organization  of  a  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Accordingly,  Presiding  Elder  Brewster,  assisted  by  the 
Rev.  Nelson  Goodrich,  instituted  the  first  Quarterly  Conference,  and 
organized  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  This  was  in  the  month  of 
March.  The  church  consisted  of  ten 
members,  as  follows:  John  Aspin- 
wall,  Louisa  J.  Aspinwall,  Elisha 
Baker,  Mary  Baker,  Amanda  Baker, 
John  O.  Fisher,  L.  U.  S.  Fisher, 
Sarah  Whidden  and  Laura  Edwards. 
Perhaps  it  should  be  said  here  that 
Mr.  Elisha  Baker,  in  whose  family 
worship  this  great  work  originated, 
lived  to  see  the  fruition  of  his  labors, 
having  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-one  years.  His  funeral  was 
solemnized  by  the  Rev.  F.  H.  Spear 
in  the  month  of  May,  1894,  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  number  of  friends, 

who  had  assembled  to  pay  their  respects  to  an  honored  servant  whose 
work  was  "well  done." 

Space  forbids  any  detailed  account  of  the  individual  pastorates.  Suf- 
fice it  to  say  that  in  nearly  all  of  them  there  have  been  revivals  of  re- 
ligion more  or  less  successful.  In  this  respect  the  pastorates  of  W.  \Y. 
Ellis  and  J.  O.  Dodge  were  the  most  notable.  In  the  Summer  of  1896, 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  F.  H.  Spear,  the  church  edifice  was 


H.   C.   WORCESTER. 
Sunday    School    Superintendent. 


REV.  JOHN*  PEARCE. 


MRS.  JOHN  PEARCE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  7 

greatly  improved,  inside  and  out.    A  new  tower  was  erected,  in  which 
was  placed  a  new  bell,  weighing  2,250  pounds. 

It  was  a  gift  from  the  Misses  Norton  of  Norwich  (Congregational- 
ists),  daughters  of  the  late  Henry  Norton,  who  was  Treasurer  of  the 
Attawaugan  Company  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  It  was  given  in  the 
latters  memory.  Beside  this  improvement  the  church  was  so  re- 
modeled in  the  interior  as  to  give  two  new  class  rooms,  instead  of 
one  small  library  room,  and  tne  whole  church  was  carpeted  and  newly 
painted  and  frescoed.  The  reopening  services  were  held  July  12,  1896, 
the  Rev.  Walter  J.  Yates  of  Rockville  preaching  the  sermon. 

PASTORS. 

1871.  Nelson  Goodrich  1882.  Silas  Sprowls 

1872-74.     W.  W.  Ellis  1883.  E.  J.  Ayers 

1875.  J.  O.  Dodge  1884-85.  O.  A.  Farley 

1876.  Charles  Morse  1886.    '  William  Kirby 

1877.  Charles  Hammona  1887-88.  G.  W.  Wright 

1878.  D.  J.  Griffin  1889-93.  H.  H.  Martin 

1879.  R.  D.  Dyson  1894-96.  F.  H.  Spear 

1880.  D.  L.  Brown  1897.  John  Pearce 

1881.  W.  A.  Luce 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — H.  C.  Worcester  (Recording),  W.  H.  Edwards,  C.  H. 
Truesdell,  B.  I.  Taft,  R.  C.  Rouse,  James  Stone,  Erastus  Baker,  Henry 
Bishop,  Sarah  R.  Truesdell,  Susan  J.  Worcester,  Ellen  M.  Taft,  Eliza- 
beth A.  Chase. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  H.  C.  Worcester ;  Assistant,  Henry 
Bishop;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nancy  Anderson;  Librarian,  Eugene 
Maxham. 

Teachers — Lizzie  Bowen,  Susan  J.  Worcester,  the  Pastor,  Ann 
E.  Carder,  Charles  O.  Barrett,  Evelyn  Darling,  Ellen  W.  Taft, 
Etta  Stone,  Thankful  Kingsbury. 

Epzvorth  League — President, C.  H.  Truesdell;  First  Vice-President, 
Thankful  Kingsbury;  Second  Vice-President,  Susan  J.  Worcester; 
Third  Vice-President,  Nellie  Hammett;  Fourth  Vice-President,  George 
O.  Miles;  Fifth  Vice-President,  Bessie  Corbin;  Sixth  Vice-President, 
James  Stone. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BURNSIDE,  CONN. 

Less  than  a  year  after  Jesse  Lee  preached  the  first  Methodist  ser- 
mon in  Connecticut,  Thomas  Spencer  of  East  Hartford  came  under  the 
influence  of  the  Methodists,  and  invited  the  Rev.  George  Roberts  to 
come  to  his  house  in  Spencer  Street  and  preach  to  those  whom  he 
would  invite.  A  few  months  later,  August,  1790,  Mr.  Roberts  organ- 
ized the  first  Methodist  Church  in  East  Hartford,  in  the  home  of  Mr. 
Spencer.  It  was  composed  of  six  members,  two  of  whom  were  men 
and  four  were  women.  Four  years  later  Asbury  records  in  his  diary  a 
visit  to  Mr.  Spencer's  home,  and  there  finds  a  neat  house  of  worship, 


THE    BURNSIDE    CHURCH. 

40  by  34  feet.  Our  church  owes  much  to  Mr.  Spencer  and  those  asso- 
ciated with  him,  who  wrere  instrumental  in  its  founding.  Among  the 
distinguished  preachers  who  preached  in  this  first  church  in  East  Hart- 
ford were  Jesse  Lee,  George  Pickering  and  Elijah  Hedding. 

In  1862  the  Rev.  Joel  McKee  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and 
won  for  his  wife  Hannah,  the  talented  daughter  of  Mr.  Spencer.  Un- 
der their  labors  a  revival  of  unusual  power  spread  to  all  the  surround- 
ing communities.  A  number  of  persons  at  this  time  united  with  the 
Church,  who  resided  in  Scotland,  now  known  as  Burnside.  A  class 
was  appointed  in  that  locality,  composed  of  members  from  leading 
families.  Edmond  M.  Beebe  was  appointed  leader  of  this  class.  The 
meetings  were  held  in  the  house  of  Justin  Easton,  which  stood  nearly 
opposite  the  Charles  Hanmer  homestead,  but  has  since  been  taken 
down,  and  on  the  site  has  been  erected  a  two-story  house,  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Jarman  and  Mr.  Tryon.  Among  the  early  members  of 
the  class  are  the  names  of  Mahlon  Forbes,  William  W.  Larrabee,  John 
Post,  Lucinda  Bidwell,  Delia  Risley,  Almira  Risley,  Maria  Risley, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  9 

Mary  Parmerlee,  Edward  Olmstead,  Sarah  Lawrence,  Ruth  Burnham, 
Huldah  Bidwell,  Sabina  Fuller,  Spencer  Moulton  and  Thomas  Justin 
Easton.  For  six  years  the  class  continued  to  meet  in  the  house  of  Mr. 
Easton,  when  it  is  recorded  that  the  members  of  this  thriving-  class 
"were  of  one  mind  and  one  heart"  in  their  purpose  to  have  a  building 
suitable  for  church  services.  Subscription  papers  were  circulated  and 
$350  secured,  which  amount  purchased  the  land  and  erected  the  first 
church  for  Methodist  use  in  what  was  then  known  as  Scotland.  It 
stood  on  the  street  east  of  the  residence  of  the  late  William  Hanmer. 
It  still  stands,  and  is  used  as  a  barn  by  Mr.  Frank  Hanmer. 

When  the  church  at  Scotland  was  erected,  preaching  was  discon- 
tinued at  Spencer  Street.     It  is  supposed  by  the  writer,  and  others  of 


THE    BURNSIDE     PARSONAGE. 

the  older  portion  of  the  Burnside  community,  that  those  who  were 
left,  after  the  withdrawal  of  those  who  built  the  Church  at  the  Center, 
came  to  the  Scotland  Church.  Here  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years 
the  word  of  God  was  dispensed  by  faithful  ministers.  Until  1840  the 
preaching  was  by  various  Ministers  and  exhorters  whom  the  people 
could  secure  from  time  to  time.  The  Xew  York  East  Conference  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  for  a  number  of  years,  sending  Cephas  Brainard  and 
W.  H.  Farris.  From  1850  until  1853  Episcopal  services  were  held  in 
the  Church.  Almost  discouraged,  the  Methodists  were  at  the  point  of 
leasing  their  building  to  the  Episcopalians  for  a  term  of  years,  when  it 
was  proposed  to  send  for  Rev.  B.  C.  Plielps,  a  local  preacher  living  in 
Hockanum,  and  Rev.  John  F.  Sheffield,  who  conducted  a  series  of 
meetings.  The  first  penitent  at  the  altar  was  C.  D.  Hills,  who  had 
been  an  active  Episcopalian.  He  met  with  a  decided  change  of  heart, 
and  afterward  entered  the  Ministry,  being  appointed  for  his  first  pas- 
torate to  this  church.  He  has  been  for  manv  vears  an  honored  mem- 


10 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


her  of  the  New  England  Conference.  Through  the  interest  of  this  re- 
vival Methodism  was  greatly  strengthened,  and  Rev.  B.  C.  Phelps  was 
employed  for  the  year,  after  which  Rev.  H.  W.  Conant  was  appointed 


REV.    JOHN    McVAY. 


MRS.   JOHN   McVAY. 


for  one  year.  During  Mr.  Conant's  pastorate  the  people  began  to  talk 
of  having  a  new  church.  In  1855  Rev.  B.  C.  Phelps  was  again  ap- 
pointed, and  served  the  church  for  four  years.  Largely  through  the 


JAS.   S.    FORBES, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


GEO.  A.  SNOW, 
Epworth   League   President. 


efforts  of  Mr.  Phelps  with  the  building  committee,  Mahlon  Forbes, 
Willard  Rowell  and  Allen  Symonds,  about  $4,000  were  secured  for  a 
new  church  building,  which  was  dedicated  November  27th,  1856.  For 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


II 


more  than  thirty-six  years  this  edifice  was  known  as  the  New  Church. 
Under  the  efficient  pastorates  of  many  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Conference  the  Burnside  Church  took  its  rank  with  the  strong  churches 
of  the  District.  It  is  characteristic  of  the  church  that  rarely  will  it 
allow  its  pastors  to  leave  before  the  expiration  of  the  term.  Almost 
every  pastorate  witnessed  some  material  improvement.  Generous  do- 
nations of  cash  are  frequently  recorded  by  grateful  pastors.  During 
the  first  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Kingsley,  in  1873,  the  interior  of  the 
church  was  improved  and  a  new  pipe  organ  was  built. 

During  the  last  year  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Bridgford,  on 
the  1 5th  of  January,  1893,  on  an  intensely  cold  day,  while  the  Sunday 
School  was  in  session,  the  church  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire. 
Nothing  could  save  it  from  complete  loss.  Five  thousand  dollars  were 
received  from  insurance.  Subscrip- 
tions were  immediately  taken,  and 
plans  made  for  a  new  church,  which 
cost  $13,000.  Much  credit  is  due  to 
the  persevering  efforts  of  the  efficient 
Building  Committee,  consisting  of 
Mr.  Lawrence  S.  Forbes,  Frank  C. 
Gould  and  James  S.  Forbes,  who,  in 
the  face  of  the  hard  times  which 
threatened,  carried  out  the  new 
church  enterprise  to  a  most  complete 
success.  On  the  2d  of  August,  1893, 
the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  appro- 
priate- ceremonies,  and  on  the  I4th  of 
March,  1894,  the  beautiful  new 
church  was  dedicated.  For  conveni- 
ence of  arrangement,  delicate  har- 
mony in  decoration  and  richly  stained  windows,  few  churches  of  its 
size  will  compare  with  this  one.  The  church  is  well  organized  with 
the  Sunday  School,  Epworth  League,  Junior  League,  Ladies'  Aid 
and  Missionary  Societies. 

True  to  its  characteristic  of  loyalty  to  its  pastors,  the  church  has 
retained  its  present  pastor  for  the  fifth  year. 

Mrs.  Martha  Olmstead,  a  deceased  member  of  the  church  ex- 
pressed her  love  for  the  cause  of  God  by  bequeathing  $6,385  to  the 
church,  to  be  held  as  a  trust  fund,  the  interest  of  the  same  to  go  toward 
the  support  of  the  preacher  in  charge. 


LAWRENCE  S.    FORBES, 
Recording  Steward. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 

1822.  JoelW.  McKee  1853. 

1823.  Joseph  Ireson  1854-56. 

1824.  Moses  Fifield  1857-58. 

1825.  Elisha  Frink  1859. 

1826.  Aaron  Lummis  1 860-61. 
Ira  M.  Bidwell  1862-63. 

1828-40.  1864. 

Supplied  by  local  preachers  and  1865-66. 

exhort  ers.  1867-68. 

1840-42.     Cephas  Brainard  1869-70. 

(New  York  East  Conference.)  1871-72. 

1843-44.  W.  H.  Farris  J  873-75. 

(New  York  East  Conference.)  1876-78. 

1845-46.  Charles  Fletcher  1879-81. 

1847.  Supplied  by  Mr.  Ranson  1882. 

1848.  Supplied  by  David  Brad-  1883-84. 

bury  1885-86. 

1849-51.     Church  was  occupied  by  1887-90. 

Episcopalians  1891-92. 

1852.  B.  C.  Phelps  1893-97. 

T.  F.  Sheffield 


Henry  W.  Conant 

B.  C.  Phelps 
William  O.  Cady 

C.  D.  Hills 
George  W.  Wooding 
Francis  W.  Brown 

J.  W.  Worcester 
Robert  Clark 
James  S.  Thomas 
Albert  L.  Deering 
L.  W.  Blood 
Augustus  W.  Kingsley 
Joseph  H.  James 
Stephen  O.  Benton 
Augustus  W.  Kingsley 
A.  W.  Luce 
Charles  S.  Morse 
T.  H.  Allen 
J.  S.  Bridgford 
John  McVay 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Lawrence  S.  Forbes,  Henry  Lathrop,  James  S.  Forbes, 
Frank  C.  Gould,  Samuel  A.  Gardner,  William  J.  Jarman,  John  H. 
Burnham. 

Stewards — Lawrence  S.  Forbes,  John  H.  Burnham,  James  S. 
Forbes,  Frank  C.  Gould.  Mrs.  Minnie  G.  Burnham,  William  J.  Jar- 
man, Mrs.  Ada  M.  Gould,  Mrs.  Jennie  M.  Forbes,  Mrs.  Fannie  L. 
Forbes,  Mrs.  Allis  G.  Potter,  Henry  Lathrop,  John  Lathrop,  Dwight 
L.  Burnham. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  James  S.  Forbes;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Samuel  A.  Gardner;  Secretary,  Ralph  Dowen;  Librarian, 
Harold  Gardner;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Allis  G.  Potter. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Emma  M.  Jarman,  L.  S.  Forbes,  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Yay,  Miss  Winnie  Merrill,  Mr.  W.  S.  Jarman,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Wickham, 
Mrs.  Elinor  Porter,  F.  C.  Gould,  George  Snow,  Mrs.  John  McVay, 
Miss  Fannie  Forbes,  Miss  Florence  Burnham,  Miss  Gertrude  Frye, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Forbes. 

Epu'orth  League — President,  George  A.  Snow;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss  Gertie  Fry;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Mary  Forbes; 
Third  Vice-President,  Ralph  Dowen;  Fourth  Vice-President,  William 
J.  Jarman ;  Fifth  Vice-President,  Miss  Edith  Stowell ;  Sixth  Yice-Presi- 
dent.  Miss  Emma  M.  Jarman. 

Class  Leader — William  J.  Jarman. 


THE   COLCHESTER    CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  COLCHESTER,  CONN. 

E.  Washburn  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  introduction  of 
Methodism  into  the  town  of  Colchester  about   1806-07.     Mr  Nolan 
moved  from  New  London  into  Colchester.     "He  invited  me  to  preach 
at  his  house.     The  first  time 
I  went  there  the  congrega- 

O  O 

tion  filled  the  house.  La- 
ter I  formed  a  class  and  ap- 
pointed Brother  Nolan  lead- 
er. This  is  the  origin  of 
Methodism  in  Colchester." 
In  1842  the  present  site  was 
purchased  and  a  building 
erected.  This  was  dedicated 
in  March,  1843,  Rev.  Geo. 
London  preaching  from  the 
text  Acts  v:2O.  Roger  Albi- 
ston  was  stationed  until 
Conference  time,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Robert  Allyn.  At  the  time  of  dedication  and  during 
several  of  the  following  pastorates  the  revival  interest  was  very  great. 
Many  souls  were  won  for  the  Alaster.  Especially  was  this  so  during 
the  pastorate  of  William  O.  Cady,  when  the  entire  village  was  stirred 

by  the  revival  influence.  Many  souls 
were  saved  and  the  church  wonder- 
fully blessed. 

Anthony  Palmer  followed  William 
O.  Cady.  By  his  efforts  the  debt 
which  had  hung  over  the  church  since 
its  dedication  was  paid,  and  the  Col- 
chester Church  set  free  from  a  heavy 
burden. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Varnum  A. 
Cooper  the  revival  spirit  was  again 
manifest,  and  many  were  converted. 
He  secured  the  building  of  a  beauti- 
ful parsonage.  It  was  well  located, 
and  was  a  model  pastor's  home. 

Under  the  labors  of  Rev.  G.  E. 
Fuller  a  great  revival  broke  out, 

and  the  church  could  not  hold  the  people  that  flocked  to  it.     Conse- 
quently it  was  enlarged  to  meet  the  growing  needs.    In  fact,  the  church 


REV.    HERBERT    HAZZARD. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


was  entirely  remodelled.  The  debt  incurred  at  this  time  was  a  great 
hindrance  to  the  later  work  of  the  church.  The  parsonage  was  sold 
to  pay  the  debt,  and  finally  it  seemed  as  though  the  church  must  be  sold. 
But  God  had  a  man  for  the  place,  and  Brother  William  Kirkby  suc- 
ceeded in  raising  the  debt  of  $1,659,  anc^  Colchester  Church  from  that 
time  until  the  present  has  been  free  from  debt. 

The  revival  spirit  which  had  been  growing  during  the  pastorate 
of  C.  W.  Holden  and  Charles  A.  Stenhouse  again  showed  itself  during 
the  pastorate  of  James  M.  Taber. 

The  church  was  again  repaired  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  S.  Bell. 


JOHN    SQUIRES. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


H.    H.    SAUNDERS. 
Chairman,    Board   of   Trustees. 


No  debt  was  incurred.  At  this  time  the  church  began  to  decline.  The 
rubber  mill,  which  employed  a  large  number  of  Methodist  people,  was 
closed,  and  the  membership  decreased  from  134  to  48.  Many  of  the 
leaders  left  the  town  to  find  employment  elsewhere.  And  it  was  a 
question  what  to  do  with  the  old  historic  church  of  Colchester.  The 
work  is  now  in  charge  of  a  student  from  Wesleyan  University. 


PASTORS. 

1843.  Roger  Albiston  1854-55. 

1843-44.     Robert  Allyn  1856-57. 

1845-46.     Merritt  P.  Alderman  1857-58. 

1847.  Sewell  Lamberton  1859-61. 
Lorenzo  Bolles  1862. 

1848.  Frank  W.  Bill  1863. 

1849.  Albert  F.  Park  1864. 
1851-52.     William  O.  Cady  1865-66. 
1853.           Anthony  Palmer  1867-68. 


Lorenzo  W.  Blood 
James  M.  Worcester 
Nelson  Goodrich 
Varnnm  A.  Cooper 
Hezekiah  S.  Ramsdell 
James  A.  Dean 
George  W.  Wooding 
Caleb  S.  Sanford 
Augustus  W.  Mills 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  15 

1869-70.  G.  A.  Morse  1888.  William  S.  Foster 

1871-72.  E.  B.  Bradford  1889.  George  H.  Hastings 

1872-74.  A.  L.  Bearing  1890.  Henry  E.  Parker 

1875-76.  G.  E.  Fuller  1891.  Alfred  Button 

1877-78.  Thomas  Simons  Theodore  G.  Eiswald 

1879-81.  Charles  W.  Holden  1892.  James  O.  Dodge 

1882-83.  Charles  A.  Stenhouse  1&93-95-  John  S.  Bell 

1884-85.  William  Kirkby  1896.  George  Gilmore 

1886-87.  James  M.  Taber  1896-97.  H.  Hazzard 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — H.  H.  Saunders,  C.  H.  Dawley,  E.  C.  Snow,  John 
Squires,  W.  W.  Palmer,  H.  A.  Eastman. 

Stewards— C.  H.  Dawley,  A.  Chittenden,  W.  W.  Palmer,  H.  A. 
Eastman,  Emilie  Eastman,  E.  Hills,  Fannie  Palmer,  George  W.  Stand- 
ish,  J.  A.  Gardner. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  Squires;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, II.  H.  Saunders;  Librarian,  W.  W.  Palmer;  Assistant  Libra- 
rian, Mrs.  W.  W.  Palmer;  Organist,  Mrs.  Eva  Snow;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  H.  A.  Eastman. 

Teachers — George  W.  Standish,  Edwin  Hills,  Lyclia  Jones,  Bessie 
Kempton,  H.  H.  Saunders. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HOPEVALE,  CONN. 

The  first  Methodist  Church  in  Hebron  was  built  about  eighty 
years  ago  on  what  is  known  as  Burroughs'  Hill,  about  one  mile  from 
Hopevale.  This  was  afterwards  taken  clown  and  sold,  and  a  new  one 
built  at  Hebron  Centre.  This  was  sold  to  the  town  in  the  year  1863, 
and  is  now  used  as  the  Town  Hall. 

In  the  year  1849  the  church  property,  situated  in  what  was  then 
called  Hope  Valley  (now  Hopevale),  was  deeded  by  David  Chapman 
to  the  trustees  in  trust  for  the  use  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Society, 
and  the  deed  was  recorded  in  the  Hebron  Town  Records. 

For  some  years  thereafter  that  denomination  sustained  services 
until  unable  to  do  so  longer  on  account  of  members  dying  or  remov- 
ing. For  some  years  previous  to  the  year  1881  preaching  was  sus- 
tained by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination,  but  only  at  the  rate 
of  twelve  Sabbaths  per  year,  preachers  coming  from  Colchester  or 
Marlborough. 

At  the  Willimantic  Camp  Meeting  in  the  year  1881  a  religious 
interest  was  started  among  the  people  of  Hopevale.  Soon  afterwards 
Brother  Kathan,  laboring  among  the  people,  was  rewarded  by  seeing 


i6 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


a  number  converted.  One  of  the  results  of  this  revival  was  an  earnest 
desire  to  form  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  place.  Conse- 
quently, Sunday,  October  10,  1881,  Mr.  Mitchell  formally  received 
into  the  church  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Johnson  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Thomp- 
son, the  only  survivors  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodis  Society, 
then  living  in  Hopevale.  He 
also  received  a  number  ot 
others  by  letter  and  from 
probation,  and  baptized  and 
received  seven  others  on 
probation. 

The   church   property   was 
deeded  to  a  board  of  trustees 
for  the  use  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal    Church    February 
THE  HOPEVALE  CHURCH.  3,  1882,  and  the  deed  record- 

ed in  the  Hebron  Land  Rec- 
ords. In  the  spring  of  1882  the  church  was  repaired,  painted,  papered 
and  a  new  bell,  carpet,  lamps,  chairs  and  organ  purchased.  The  church 
was  rededicated  September  3,  1882,  by  Presiding  Elder  H.  D.  Rob- 
inson. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  church,  services  have  been  held 
regularly,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  when  it  was  closed  for 
want  of  funds. 

than  twenty-three  at  one  time.     This  number  has  been  reduced  to 
The  church  membership  has  been  small,  never  numbering  more 
eleven  by  removals  and  deaths. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  the  help  received  from  the  ladies  of 
the  church  and  society.  One  year  they  earned  nearly  one  hundred 
dollars.  The  church  also  receives  the  interest  from  a  small  fund 
toward  paying  for  preaching. 

The  present  year  (1897)  is  an  unusually  hard  one  for  the  church. 
A  few  are  doing  what  they  can  to  sustain  services,  and  the  pulpit  is 
supplied  by  Messrs.  Hazzard  and  Woodworth  of  Colchester. 

The  quaint  Communion  Service  which  wras  used  in  the  old  church 
is  still  in  good  condition,  and  is  used  at  the  present  time  in  Communion 
Services.  It  is  said  that  the  first  Camp  Meeting  held  in  Connecticut 
was  held  in  a  grove  about  one  mile  from  this  place.  No  record  could 
be  found  of  pastors  of  the  old  church,  but  among  them  were  Daniel 
Boroughs,  Father  Griffith,  Walter  Wilkie,  Mr.  Dixon  and  William 
Tisdale. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 
1891. 

1892. 

1893-94. 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 


Mr.  Britain 
F.  L.  Eiswald 
J.  O.  Dodge 
W.  W.  Peck 
J.  S.  Bell 
H.  Hazzard 
H.  Hazzard 
F.  A.  Woodworth 


1882.  F.  L.  Hay  ward 
C.  H.  Gardner 

1883.  J.  H.  Roberts 

1884.  L.  L.  Hay  ward 

1885.  W.  S.  Manship 
G.  W.  Wood 

1886.  A.  H.  Merritt 

1887.  L.  C.  Murdock 
1890.  H.  C.  Parker 

The  Sunday  School  Superintendents  have  been  F.  G.  Waldo, 
W.  S.  Manship  and  James  Tefft. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees  —  G.  F.  Button,  N.  E.  Coates,  A.  Chittenden,  J.  Tefft, 
A.  W.  Sisson. 

Stewards  —  G.  F.  Button,  James  Tefft,  Mrs.  Mary  Wright,  Airs. 
Emma  Sisson,  Miss  Jennie  Goodenough  (R.  S.),  A.  Chittenden  (D.  S.). 

Sunday  School  —  Superintendent,  James  Tefft;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, W.  O.  Turner;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  F.  Button;  Secretary  and 
Librarian,  May  E.  Button. 

Teachers  —  W.  O.  Turner,  Miss  Josephine  Allyn,  Miss  Jennie 
Goodenough. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  DANIELSON,  CONN. 

To  the  Rev.  John  Lovejoy  is  given  the  credit  of  preaching  the 
first  Methodist  sermon  in  this  place.  Whether  it  was  in  1830,  as 
claimed  by  one  report,  or  in  1839,  when  he  spent  a  night  here,  preached 


THE   DANIELSON   PARSONAGE. 


i8 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


in  a  private  house  and  enrolled  the  names  of  five  persons  as  members 

of  a  class,  but  appointed  neither  class  leader  nor  meeting,  is  uncertain. 

In  the  autumn  of  1840  Hezekiah 
Thatcher,  preacher-in-charge  of 
Plainfielcl  circuit,  preached  here 
several  times,  and  September  22, 
organized  a  class  of  thirteen  mem- 
bers and  appointed  Edwin  Dunlap 
leader.  Regular  preaching  was  not 
established  until  the  following 
year,  when  Rev.  A.  B.  Wheeler, 
junior  preacher  on  Plainfielcl  cir- 
cuit, and  Rev.  Stephen  W.  Ham- 
mond, a  local  preacher,  residing  in 
Pomfret,  arranged  for  services, 
which  were  held  first  in  the  school- 
house,  then  in  the  "Conference 
room"  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  then  in  the  freight 
depot,  a  bale  of  cotton  often  serv- 
ing as  a  pulpit.  Great  success  at- 
tended their  labors,  about  sixty 
conversions  occurring  during  the 
winter;  and  "depot  power"  became 

a  common  expression,  and  was  often  heard  in  certain  circles. 
Danielsonville,  as  the  name  was  till 

1895,    when    the    last    syllable    was 

dropped   by    act   of   the    Legislature, 

appears  in  the  list  of  appointments, 

first   in    1842,   with    George   May   as 

pastor.      He   was  a  man   of   popular 

talents,  and  was  heartily  received.     A 

much-needed   house  of  worship   was 

erected;  the  frame  was  raised  July  4, 

and    the    house   was    completed    and 

dedicated    September    30    following. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year  Mr.  May 

withdrew  from  the  church,  being  car- 
ried away  by  the  intense  anti-slavery 

excitement  which  was  sweeping  over 

New  England. 

Again  Stephen   W.   Hammond   came  to  the  help  of  the   infant 


THE  DAXIELSOX  CHURCH. 


S.   H.    PERRY, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


church  and  was  appointed  in  charge  till  the  ensuing  Conference, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Howson.  Mr.  Howson  found 
the  church  in  a  state  of  excitement  and  much  discouraged,  but  by 
wise  management  the  excitement  was  allayed,  so  that  but  few  followed 
their  late  pastor  in  withdrawing  from  the  church,  a  revival  spirit  pre- 
vailed, and  at  the  close  of  his  two  years  term  he  left  a  united  and 
prosperous  church. 

In  1851,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Sidney  Dean,  it  became 
necessary  to  enlarge  the  church,  and  it  was  lengthened  16  feet,  and 
the  knoll  on  which  it  stood  was  removed,  making  room  for  vestries. 

During  the  second  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Brewster  the  church 
was  greatly  improved,  both  in  the  audience  room  and  vestries. 

In  1873,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  E.  Fuller,  a  parsonage 


REV.    WALTER   ELA. 


MRS.    WALTER    ELA. 


with  a  store  beneath  was  erected  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church,  and 
the  next  year  a  pipe  organ  was  placed  in  the  church. 

The  addition  and  improvements  to  the  church  had  left  a  debt 
which  in  1881  amounted  to  about  $4,000.  This  was  a  burden  heavy 
to  be  borne,  and  under  the  lead  of  Rev.  Robert  Clark,  aided  by  Bishop 
Peck,  who  spent  a  Sunday  here,  the  entire  amount  was  raised,  and  the 
church  was  freed  from  debt. 

In  1894,  when  Rev.  J.  S.  Bridgford  was  pastor,  a  commodious 
and  beautifully  located  house  was  bought  for  a  parsonage,  the  old 
one,  being  an  upstairs  tenement  in  the  very  business  centre  of  the 
town,  proving  to  be  an  unsatisfactory  residence  for  the  pastor  and  his 
family. 

This  has  been  a  revival  church  from  the  beginning.     Very  few, 


2O 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


if  any,  have  been  the  years  in  which  it  has  witnessed  no  conversions : 
yet,  owing  to  the  changing  character  of  the  population,  it  has  often 
occurred  that  the  removals  have  been  more  numerous  than  the  acces- 


sions. 

1842. 

1843-44. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851-52. 
1852. 

1853-54. 
1855-56. 
1857-58. 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-64. 
1865-66. 
1867-68. 


George  May 
John  Howson 
B.  C.  Phelps 
John  Livesey 
S.  W.  Coggshall 
Sidney  Dean 
H.  S.  White 
L.  D.  Bentley 
W.  S.  Simmons 
L.  W.  Blood 
G.  W.  Brewster 
Anthony  Palmer 
Carlos  Banning 
W.  H.  Stetson 
G.  W.  Brewster 


PASTORS. 

1869. 

1870-71. 

1872-74. 

1875-76. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 

1 880-8 1. 

1882-84. 

1885-86. 

1887-88. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

1893-94. 

1895. 


N.  G.  Lippitt 

S.  Leader 

G.  E.  Fuller 

G.  W.  Anderson 

N.  G.  Lippitt 

S.  O.  Benton 

R.  W.  C.  Farnsworth 

Robert  Clark 

J.  H.  James 

John  Oldhani 

F.  L.  Hayward 

G.  A.  Morse 
G.  H.  Hastings 
J.  S.  Bridgford 
Walter  Ela 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — President,  W.  H.  Judson,  M.  D.;  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, C.  E.  Crosby;  C.  E.  Woodis,  C.  H.  Burroughs,  W.  F.  Day. 

Stewards— C.  E.  Carpenter  (R.  S.),  W.  F.  Day  (D.  S.),  Abner 
Young,  D.  P.  Burlingham,  C.  E.  Woodis,  C.  E.  Crosby,  W.  H.  Jud- 
son, M.  D.,  W.  C.  Burdick,  H.  A.  McEwen,  S.  H.  Perry,  C.  H. 
Burroughs,  S.  S.  Stone,  A.  E.  Pray. 

Class  Leaders — W.  C.  Burdick,  J.  H.  Briggs. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  S.  H.  Perry;  First  Assistant 
Superintendent,  H.  A.  McEwen;  Second  Assistant  Superintendent, 
Miss  Cora  Stephens;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nathan  D.  Prince; 
Librarian,  Louis  L.  Wilson;  Organist,  Miss  Emma  Stone. 

Teachers — D.  P.  Burlingham,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Briggs,  Miss  Esther 
Johnson,  Abner  Young,  Mrs.  Millie  Young,  J.  M.  Crosby,  C.  E.  Car- 
penter, Mrs.  J.  W.  Day,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Day,  H.  A.  McEwen,  Miss  Cora 
Stephens,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Prince,  Miss  Emma  Hammond,  Miss  Clara  J. 
Young,  Miss  Stephens. 

Epworth  League  (Chapter  No.  851) — President,  Fred  A.  Kennedy; 
First  Vice  President,  S.  H.  Perry;  Second  Vice  President,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Day;  Third  Vice  President,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Crosby;  Fourth  Vice  President, 
Miss  Gertrude  Burdick;  Secretary,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Briggs;  Treasurer. 
H.  M.  Bushnell. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  BLACKSTONE,  MASS. 

Methodist  services  were  first  held  in  East  Blackstone,  Mass.,  in 
1865,  by  F.  H.  Myett,  at  that  time  a  dentist  in  Woonsocket,  R.  I., 
and  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

For  a  time  meetings  were  held 
in  private  houses,  but  soon  such 
an  interest  was  aroused  that  the 
services  were  transferred  to  the 
schoolhouse,  nearly  opposite  to 
the  present  location  of  the  church. 

A  small  class  was  formed,  and 
in  1869  Rev.  T.  B.  Gurney  was 
appointed  the  first  regular  pastor. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  year  a 
petition  was  circulated  for  a  per- 
manent building  for  worship.  A 
church  was  soon  erected  at  a  cost 
of  about  $3,500.  Owing  to  busi- 
ness depression  at  the  time  of 
completion,  the  Trustees  were 
forced  to  mortgage  the  property.  THE  EAST  BLACKSTONE  CHURCH. 
The  society  struggled  with  this  mortgage  until  1887,  when  Rev.  W.  D. 
Woodward  succeeded  in  raising  $1,300.  The  church  was  then  dedi- 
cated clear  of  all  incumbrance. 

In  the  Spring  of  1895  a  parsonage  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$1,200.    Only  a  small  portion  of  this  sum  has  been  paid. 


REV.    H.    E.   MURKETT. 


MRS.    H.    E.    MURKETT, 
Epworth    League  President. 


22 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  1896  an  Epworth  League  Chapter  was  organized,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  twenty-four.    The  Sunday  School  numbers  thirty. 


1869. 
1870-72. 

1873- 

1874-76. 

1877-78. 

1879. 

1880. 

1881-82. 

1883. 

1884. 

1885. 


T.  B.  Gurney 
J.  H.  Cooley 
J.  N.  Maynard 
W.  R.  Mays 
Charles  Nason 
G.  E.  Brightman 
A.  H.  Baker 
W.  S.  Smithers 
A.  J.  Church 
A.  C.  Jones 
A.  H.  Briggs 


PASTORS. 

1885. 

1886. 

1887-88. 

1889-90. 

1891. 

1892. 

1893. 

1894. 
1895-97. 


W.  R.  Newhall 
W.  D.  Woodward 
J.  H.  Nutting 
C.  M.  Demmings 

F.  B.  White 

G.  H.  Hefflon 
H.  E.  Parker 
John  Richards 
John  Richards 
H.  E.  Murkett 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— W.  A.  Thayer,  S.  H.  White,  E.  W.  Thayer,  W.  H. 
Estey,  A.  J.  Daniels. 

Stewards—  S.  H.  White,  W.  H.  Estey,  Ellis  W.  Thayer,  W.  A. 
Thayer,  Harriet  P.  White,  Jane  Thayer,  Mary  E.  Thayer,  Anna  F. 
Wilcox,  Susie  F.  Aldrich,  Abbie  M.  Hadley,  Emma  L.  Taylor. 

Sunday  School — S.  H.  White,  Superintendent;  H.  E.  Murkett,  As- 
sistant Superintendent;  Waldo  Kelly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Carrie 
Eldred,  Librarian. 

Epworth  League — Mrs,  H.  E.  Murkett,  President;  Vice-Presidents, 
S.  H.  White,  Carrie  Eldred  and  Emma  L.  Taylor;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Mary  E.  Thayer. 


EAST    BLACKSTONE    PARSONAGE. 


S.    H.    WHITE, 
Sunday   School    Superintendent. 


M.  E.   CHURCH,  EASTFORD,   CONN. 

Methodism  in  this  town  dates  back  to  the  year  1795.  In  that  year 
a  young  lawyer  on  a  visit  to  his  uncle  in  Woodstock  heard  Jesse  Lee's 
first  sermon  in  that  town,  and  returned  a  convert  to  the  new  doctrine 
of  free  grace.  In  May,  1815,  Captain  Leonard  Dean  deeded  the  society 
a  piece  of  land,  with  a  church 
already  built  upon  it.  This 
place  of  worship  was  about 
two  miles  west  of  the  present 
village  of  Eastford. 

It  seems  that  the  society 
became  weaker,  and  some- 
what more  concentrated  at 
the  village.  At  any  rate,  they 
united  at  one  time  with  the 
Universalists,  and  built  a 
church  not  many  rods  west 
of  the  present  one,  and  wor- 
shiped alternately  in  this  house  until  1847.  In  January  of  that 
year  Willard  Lyon  deeded  the  society  a  piece  of  land  in  the 
heart  of  the  village.  With  the  opening  of  Spring  the  labor  on  the  new 
church  was  commenced,  and  finished  and  dedicated  some  time  during 
that  Summer.  That  building  still  stands,  and  is  the  one  now  used  by 
the  society1  for  worship. 

The  church  has  been  renewed  time  and  again  by  many  powerful 
revivals,  and  more  than  once  it  has  been  the  strongest  society  in  the 


THE     EASTFORD    CHURCH. 


REV.    JOSEPH   RICHARDSON. 


MRS.    JOSEPH    RICHARDSON. 


24  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

town.  The  prospects  are  favorable  for  its  becoming  so  again.  Of  the 
different  revivals  which  have  spread  over  the  town,  bringing  new  life 
into  the  society,  that  which  occurred  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
G.  W.  Hunt,  and  also  under  the  present  pastorate,  were  the  two  most 
remarkable  instances  of  the  outpouring  of  divine  grace.  The  first 
mentioned  took  place  twenty-three  years  ago,  when  the  church  was  in 
good  condition,  and  resulted  in  over  one  hundred  conversions,  seventy 
uniting  with  the  society  on  probation,  many  who  came  afterwards  into 
full  connection,  and  some  of  them  are  living  to-day. 

Under  the  present  pastorate  the  revival  broke  out  suddenly  and 
has  continued  intermittently  until  the  present  time.    For  two  Winters 


THE   RICHARDSON   TRIPLETS.     TEN  DAYS  OLD. 

Lewellyn  Oass  Richardson,  6%  Ibs.  Leucretia  Emerson  Richardson,  6  Ibs. 

Lewis  Hillery  Richardson,  Ql/2  Ib. 

and  two  Summers  additions  to  the  church  have  been  taking  place,  and 
the  society  has  arisen  from  the  dying  condition  in  which  it  had  been 
for  some  years,  to  an  active,  wide-wake  and  spiritual  condition. 

The  early  records  have  been  lost,  and  it  is  impossible  to  learn 
definitely  what  was  done  prior  to  1870.  A  list  of  the  preachers  from 
1834  has  been  preserved  until  1885,  since  which  time  breaks  in  the 
records  occur,  and  sometimes  no  preacher  was  stationed  over  the 
society. 

On  September  23  of  the  past  year  (1897)  this  church  observed  its 
one  hundred  and  second  anniversary,  which  was  an  occasion  of  gen- 
eral rejoicing.  Rev.  Daniel  Dorchester,  D.  D.,  delivered  an  interesting 
and  instructive  historical  address. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1834.  William  Livesey 

1835-36.  Stephen  Gushing 

1837-38.  Erastus  Benton 

1839-40.  R.  W.  Allen 

1841.  C.  C.  Barnes 

1842.  A.  Latham 

1843.  L.  W.  Blood 
1844-45.  C-  C.  Magee 
1846-47.  Edward  A.  Lyon,  Ap. 


ARTHUR  M.  KEITH, 
Sunday    School    Superintendent. 


1848. 

1849-50. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853-54. 

1855. 

1856-57. 

1858. 

1859-60. 

1861. 

1862-63. 

1864-65. 

1866-67. 

1868. 

1869-70. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873. 

1874-75. 

1876.'^ 

1877. 

1878-70. 

1880.   ' 

1881. 

1882-84. 

1891-02. 

1893-94. 

1895. 


W.  S.  Simmons 
Lyman  Leffingwell 
Henry  Torbush 

B.  M.  Walker 
D.  Dorchester 

C.  A.  Sanford 
Otis  Perrin 

J.  F.  Fogg 
Henry  Arnold 
C.  Collard  Adams 
L.  D.  Bentley 
George  A.  Morse 
M.  Ransom 
James  H.  Cooler 
N.  Goodrich 
DeWitt  C.  House 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
George  W.  Hunt 
A.  B.  Wheeler 
R.  D.  Dyson 
S.  B.  Chase 
J.  S.  Thomas 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
George  R.  Bentle) 
A.  B.  Bessey 
C.  A.  Purdy 
W.  S.  Whelon 
Joseph  Richardson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Arthur  Keith,  Dr.  E.  K.  Robins,  Robert  Arnold,  Ariel 
W.  Green,  William  Harrington,  John  R.  Miller,  Orin  Wilson,  John 
Sherman,  Ira  B.  Cushman. 

Stewards — Robert  Arnold  (R.  S.),  Mrs.  Robert  Arnold,  John  R. 
Miller,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Miller,  Mrs.  Ira  B.  Cushman,  Mrs.  John  Whitney, 
Ariel  W.  Green,  William  Harrington,  John  Taylor,  Mrs.  Lee  Lion, 
Mrs.  Jane  Grey,  Dr.  E.  K.  Robins,  Mrs.  Hannah  Burnham. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Arthur  Keith;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Mrs.  Robert  Arnold;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Jane 
Grey. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  GLASTONBURY,  CONN. 

The  earliest  date  of  Methodism  in  Glastonbury  is  1793.      At  that 

time  certain  preachers  of  Methodist  persuasion,  though  laboring  under 

the  disadvantage  of  being  ''regarded  as  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing," 

entered  the  town  and 
preached  to  the  people.  A 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  holding 
service  at  the  home  of  a 
Mr.  Benjamin  Hyde,  was 
the  first,  and  the  Rev. 
Nicolas  Smithers,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Tolland  circuit, 
holding  services  at  Mr.  Asa 
Smith's  home,  followed  in 
1794.  Hearing  of  the  lat- 
ter's  work,  Jeremiah  Stock- 
ing, destined  to  be  the 
leading  spirit  in  local 
Methodism,  resolved  to  go 
and  hear  for  himself  re- 
specting what  was  com- 
monly known  as  the  "new 
doctrine."  "My  heart's 
desire,"  Mr.  Stocking  said, 

"was  to  know  the  truth  and  embrace  it  when  known." 

So  impressed  was  he  by  the  preaching  of  this  faithful  servant 

of  God,  which  was  good  news  to  his  famishing  spirit,  as  he  said,  that 

he  embraced  Christ  and  was  consciously  and  soundly  converted  to 

God.     His  experience  immediately  following  is  best  told  in  his  own 

words:     "But   I   soon   found 

that  it  was  still  true  that  they 

that  live  Godly  in  Christ  Jesus 

shall    suffer   persecution;    for 

no  sooner  had  I  begun  to  tell 

what  the  Lord  had  done  for 

my  soul  than  some  mocked, 

some    frowned,   some    pitied 

me,  and  others  supposed  me 

quite    out    of   my    senses.      I 

looked  around  for  friends  in 

whose    sympathies     I    could 

share,    and    lo!     there    were        EAST  GLASTONBURY  PARSONAGE. 


EAST    GLASTONBURY    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


27 


none."  The  nearest  Methodist  society  at  that  time  being  at  East 
Hartford,  Mr.  Stocking  connected  himself  in  membership  there. 

Joined  soon  after  by  his  wife,  Asa  Smith  and  wife  and  one  or  two 
others,  Mr.  Stocking  began  to  hold  services  at  Mr.  Israel  Hollister's 
home,  in  his  own  neighborhood,  where  there  were  a  few  converts. 
These  services  were  the  first  Methodist  prayer  meetings  held  in  the 
town.  Continuing  to  improve  his  gifts  in  such  labors,  Mr.  Stocking 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1796,  was  ordained  deacon  in  1800,  and 
soon  afterward  elder.  From  the  day  of  his  conversion  to  the  day  of 
his  death,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Stocking,  greatly  beloved  by  the  brethren, 
continued  faithful  in  abundant  labors  for  Christ  and  the  Church.  He 
died  March  23,  1853,  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

East  Glastonbury  feels  justly  proud  of  her  historical  renown. 
Many  whose  names  are  household  words  in  Methodism  have  labored 


INTERIOR    VIEW   OF  THE    CHURCH. 

here  and  won  victories  for  the  cross.  It  was  either  in  the  year  1793 
or  1794 — probably  the  latter — that  Bishop  Francis  Asbury  crossed 
over  the  Connecticut  River  and  preached  on  a  great  rock  in  the  dis- 
trict known  locally  as  Wassac.  This  rock  projects  from  the  hillside 
in  what  was  then  a  magnificent  grove  of  stately  oaks,  but  now  only 
a  cleared  pasture  land. 

In  the  near  vicinity  of  this  historic  spot  is  a  large  oak  tree  under 
whose  huge  branches  most  of  the  heroes  of  New  England  Methodism 
have  preached.  It  was  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Halsey  Buck,  father  of 
Hon.  John  R.  Buck,  ex-United  States  Congressman,  that  the  recon- 
ciliation of  the  passionate  preacher,  John  Newland  Maffit,  with  his 
wife,  whom  he  had  left  in  the  old  country,  took  place.  With  all  his 
failings,  tradition  points  to  a  great  affection  toward  him  by  the  people 
among  whom  he  labored. 


28 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


East  Glastonbury  was  made  a  regular  appointment  on  the  New 
London  circuit  in  1796.  At  that  time  a  class  was  organized  consisting 
of  the  following  eight  persons:  Jeremiah  Stocking,  Amasa  Hollister 
and  wife,  Asa  Smith  and  wife,  Levi  Loveland,  Lucretia  Buck,  Gilbert 
Weir.  From  1796  to  1810  the  meetings  of  this  infant  society  were 
held  in  private  houses,  school  buildings,  barns  and  in  open  air.  In 
1810  a  chapel  was  erected  in  the  district  known  locally  as  Wassac, 
and  in  this  the  people  worshiped  for  thirty-six  years.  In  1846  the 
population  having  shifted  somewhat,  another  and  more  commodious 
edifice  was  erected  in  the  heart  of  the  village  of  East  Glastonbury. 
The  dedicatory  exercises  were  held  in  the  month  of  January,  the  2oth 
day,  1847,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Lyman  Lefrmgwell.  About 
four  years  later,  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Morse,  the 
parsonage  was  erected.  This  building  has  been  added  to  and  remod- 


THE     ASBURY     ROCK. 

eled  somewhat,  until  now  it  is  quite  roomy,  convenient  and  pleasant. 
It  contains  six  rooms  on  the  ground  floor  and  three  finished  rooms 
upstairs. 

On  Sunday  morning,  June  14,  1885,  the  last  named  church  edi- 
fice, dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  saints  who  had  erected  it,  and  precious 
to  all  alike  as  the  birthplace  of  many  souls,  was  utterly  destroyed  by 
fire.  This  was  a  sad  blow.  The  spirit  and  faith  of  the  people,  how- 
ever, did  not  waver  for  a  moment.  Promptly  and  heroically  they  went 
to  work  to  make  their  loss  good.  The  next  day  after  the  fire  in  the 
evening  the  official  members  appointed  the  Rev.  R.  D.  Dyson,  who, 
the  April  before,  had  come  into  the  relation  of  pastor,  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions for  the  building,  and  Miss  Ada  Crosby  to  solicit  for  the 
furnishings.  Before  another  Sabbath  sun  had  dawned  every  cent 
necessary  for  the  enterprise  complete  was  pledged,  and  not  one  cent 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  29 

of  the  amount  remained  unpaid.  The  new  edifice  was  dedicated  March 
1 8,  1886,  absolutely  free  from  debt,  the  Rev.  C.  B.  Pitblado  preaching 
the  sermon.  The  structure  is  modern  in  every  respect.  It  contains 
in  the  lower  story  a  large  vestry,  one  small  vestry  or  class  room,  a 
large  and  very  convenient  kitchen,  and  a  good  furnace  and  fuel  room. 
The  interior  of  this  story  is  finished  entire  in  natural  wood.  Upstairs 
there  is  a  most  beautiful  auditorium,  finished  to  the  peak  with  exposed 
rafters.  The  furnishings  are  very  elaborate,  the  colors  blending  in 
harmonious  effect.  The  windows  are  of  cathedral  glass.  To  Mr. 
Edwin  Crosby,  whose  very  life  and  interest  were  centered  in  the 
church,  is  a  large  share  of  the  credit  due  for  such  an  excellent  house 


REV.    F.    H.    SPEAR    AND   WIPE. 

of  worship.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Harriet  Crosby,  remains  with  us  yet, 
however,  and  cheerfully  furthers  the  work  of  her  absent  companion 
as  far  as  her  health  will  permit. 

Highly  respected  and  greatly  beloved,  Mr.  Anson  Treat  has 
served  this  society  as  Class  Leader  for  over  fifty  years. 

Many  have  been  the  saints  who  have  passed  from  their  labors  here 
to  their  heavenly  rest,  and  many  of  these  have  left  by  will  their  token 
of  love  for  the  local  church  in  the  shape  of  the  following  bequests: 
Henry  Hale,  $500;  Pamelia  Hubbard,  $269;  Edwin  Crosby,  $250; 
Horace  Latimer,  $255;  Lucretia  Hubbard,  $176,  making  a  total  of 
$1,450.  The  income  of  this  fund  is  devoted  to  the  work  of  keeping 
the  church  property  in  repair. 

To  speak  of  the  individual  pastorates,  they  being  so  many,  would 
be  almost  an  impossibility.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  laborers  were 


SOL'l'EXIR  HISTORY. 


all  faithful  servants  to  God,  and  their  work  was  well  done.  Revivals 
have  been  frequent,  and  many  in  both  heaven  and  on  earth  are  prais- 
ing God  for  the  faith  of  their  fathers  who  worshiped  here,  building 


GILBERT  E.  WILLIS. 

Sunday    School    Superintendent. 


MR.   ANSON   TREAT. 
Treasurer. 


up  what  proved  to  be  their  spiritual  birthplace.  In  common  with  all 
other  churches,  the  local  church  has  had  its  reverses,  but  these  have 
long  since  been  turned  to  its  spiritual  advantage.  They  have  simplv 


MR.   EDWIN  CROSBY   (Deceased). 


JEREMIAH   STOCKING. 


made  possible  the  noble  triumphs  which  have  characterized  its  history. 
The  church  stands  to-day  rich  in  faith  and  vigorous  in  life. 

Ail  that  is  known  of  the  pastorates  which  came  previous  to  1826 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


is  found  in  an  historical  sketch  by  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Stocking.  After 
recording  the  formation  of  the  first  class  in  1796,  he  writes:  "Subse- 
quently, the  work  was  carried  on  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the 
labors  of  Revs.  David  Ostrander,  Lawrence  McCoomb,  Shadrach 
Bostwick,  Timothy  Merritt  and  others." 


1826. 

Aaron  Simmons 

Hector  Bronson 

1827. 

Ira  M.  Bidwell 

Caleb  D.  Rogers 

1828-29. 

Heman  Perry 

George  Stone 

1830. 

Heman  Perry 

E.  Scott 

1831. 

J.  E.  Rislev 

E.  Scott 

1832. 

J.  E.  Rislev 

Philo  Hawks 

1833-35- 

Reuben  Ransom 

Phil.  Green 

1836. 

George  May 

1837. 

E.  C.  Scott 

George  May 

1838. 

T.  W.  Gile 

A.  C.  W7heate 

1839. 

Lozien  Pierce 

1841. 

Benjamin  M.  Walker 

Lorin  C.  Collins 

1842. 

Benjamin  M.  Walker 

E.  Dunham 

1843. 

C.  W.  Turner 

1844. 

Edmund  A.  Standish 

1845-46. 

Levi  Daggett,  Jr. 

PASTORS. 

1847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851. 

1852-53- 

I854-55- 

1856. 

1857-58. 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-64. 
1865-66. 
1867-69. 
1870-71. 
1-872. 

1873- 

1874. 

1875-76. 

1877-78. 

1879-80. 

1881. 

1882-84. 

1885-87. 

1888-90. 

1891. 

1892-96. 

1897. 


Lyman  Lemngwell 
Roger  Albiston 
Charles  Morse 
Samuel  Fox 
Nelson  Goodrich 
Charles  Hammond 
Edwin  Stanley 
William  Simmons 
Warren  Emerson 
Robert  Clark 
James  H.  Cooley 
Edward  M.  Anthony 
Dennison  L.  Brown 
Hefflon  S.  Smith 
William  Turkington 
John  Oldham 
A.   L.  Deering 
S.  E.  Evans 

F.  C.  Newell 
J.  A.  L.  Rich 

G.  H.  Butler 
R.  D.  Dyson 
E.  F.  Smith 
E.  F.  Newell 
Jacob  Betts 
Francis  H.  Spear 


PRESIDING  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — President,  A.  D.  Clark;  Secretary,  H.  R.  Brooks; 
Treasurer,  Anson  Treat;  A.  O.  Crosby,  H.  Fisher,  John  Buchanan, 
W.  E.  Rau,  John  Wilson,  S.  Cadwell. 

Stezvards — A.  D.  Clark,  John  Ainley,  John  Buchanan,  Henry 
Fisher,  T.  H.  Hodge,  George  Wilson,  E.  M.  Dutton,  Miss  A.  B. 
Crosby,  Mrs.  A.  O.  Crosby  (R.  S.),  N.  H.  Staples,  Julius  Hollister, 
John  Wilson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Gilbert  E.  Willis. 

Epworth  League — President,  D.  C.  House. 

Class  Leader — H.  R.  Brooks. 

Ladies'  Benevolent  Society — President,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Wilson. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  HAMPTON,  CONN. 
By  J.  A.  S. 

In  the  year  1817  Rev.  Joel  W.  McKee,  one  of  the  preachers  on 
the  Hebron  circuit,  came  down  through  Glastonbury  and  Eastbury 
into  East  Hampton,  praying  in  nearly  every  hoiise  on  his  way,  and 
continued  preaching  in  private  houses,  until  the  close  of  the  confer- 
ence year,  in  June,  1818.  The  first  Methodist  class  in  East  Hampton 
was  probably  organized  at  that  time.  The  Hebron  circuit  then  em- 
braced the  towns  in  Middlesex  and  New  London  counties,  between  the 
Connecticut  and  Thames  rivers,  and  the  more  southerly  towns  in  Hart- 
ford and  Tolland  counties.  The 
circuit  was  a  journey  of  about 
six  weeks'  duration,  and  the 
preachers  made  their  visits  to 
East  Hampton  on  week  clays 
until  1828;  then  once  in  two 
weeks  on  the  Sabbath,  until 
1847,  when  services  were  held 
every  Sunday. 

In  1828,  at  the  Conference 
which  was  held  at  Lynn,  Mass., 
Revs.  Thomas  G.  Brown,  Hector 
Brownson  and  Samuel  Davis 
were  appointed  to  this  circuit.  A 
widespread  revival,  long  known 
as  the  ''great  reformation,"  pre- 
vailed at  this  time.  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown,  in  a  fragment  of  auto- 
biography, wrote  of  the  revival 
as  follows:  "I  made  my  home  in 
East  Hampton.  In  this  place  we  had  a  gracious  revival; 
about  two  hundred  experienced  religion,  including  those  that  were 
reclaimed  from  a  backslidden  state.  Never  had  there  been  such  a 
work  in  the  place  before;  nor  has  there  been  since."  Many  of  these 
converts  were  heads  of  families,  and  this  revival  resulted  in  greatly 
strengthening  the  Congregational  Church,  as  well  as  establishing  the 
Methodist  Church  in  the  place. 

In  1830  the  Methodists  built  a  church  on  Miller's  Hill,  48x36  feet, 
costing  $1,800.  Squire  Amasa  Daniels,  the  first  subscriber,  gave  $50. 
In  1848  a  church  division  occurred,  and  twenty-eight  members  with- 
drew and  organized  the  Free  Methodist  Church,  which  continued  until 


EAST    HAMPTON    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


33 


1866.  They  built  an  edifice  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  40x30  feet,  at 
a  cost  of  $1,400,  which  was  dedicated  April  10,  1851.  John  Hunter,  E. 
Withev,  Peter  Feltv,  Horace  Brown  and  others  were  the  ministers. 


BAST   HAMPTON    PARSONAGE. 

From  1860-66  services  were  held  occasionally,  Rev.  Thomas  G. 
Brown  and  others  officiating.  In  1866,  through  the  efforts  of  Elder 
P.  T.  Kenney,  Mrs.  Lucy  Strong  and  Deming  W.  Sexton,  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  both  churches  united  under  a  new  organization,  and 
were  accepted  by  the  Conference. 

October  20,  1875,  tne  united  church  dedicated  the  edifice  now  in 
use.  It  is  56x37  feet,  and  cost  about  $12,000. 

The  early  church  was  widely  known  for  the  talent  and  spirituality 
of  its  membership.  Often,  after  a  discouraged  or  frightened  young 


REV.    F.    \V.   COI.EMAN. 


MRS.    F.  W.   COLEMAN. 


34 


SOUTENIR  HISTORY. 


preacher  had  said  all  he  could,  he  gave  "liberty,"  and  some  one  of  the 
members  was  always  ready  to  take  up  the  subject  to  the  edification  of 
all  present.  The  early  church  also  received  their  full  share  of  persecu- 
tion. They  were  often  locked  out  of  the  schoolhonses,  and  refused 
the  use  of  other  places  for  public  worship.  One  person,  a  physician, 
declared  with  a  terrible  oath,  that  when  he  returned  from  a  professional 
visit  he  would  prevent  the  Methodists  holding  their  meeting.  He  has 
not  yet  returned,  for  doctor  and  patients,  a  mother  and  child,  were  all 
gone  to  their  last  rest  before  the  hour  for  service  arrived.  Parents  for- 
bade their  children  attending  the  meetings,  and  pastors  condemned 
their  methods  and  religion,  but  joyfully  accepted  "the  wildfire  converts" 
to  their  own  communion.  Several  revivals  have  occurred  during  the 
period  of  the  united  church,  the  most  notable  during  the  pastorates  of 
Mellen  Howard  and  J.  F.  Sheffield. 

Rev.  Thomas  G.  Brown,  one  of  the  circuit  preachers  here  in  18.28, 
spent  his  declining  years  in  this  place,  in  the  communion  of  this  church. 
He  followed  his  sons  to  the  war,  as  Chaplain  of  the  Twenty-first  Con- 
necticut Volunteers,  endearing  himself  to  his  soldiers  by  his  heroic, 
tender  and  faithful  services. 

Rev.  George  H.  Lanison,  pastor  in  '84-5,  resides  here,  and  is  a 
valued  member  of  this  church. 


1818-19.     J.  W.  McKee 
Edward  Hyde 

1820.  Charles  Baker 

1821.  Zalmon  Stewart 

1822.  Daniel  Dorchester 
1823-24.     Ebenezer  Blake 
1825.  Horace  Moulton 
1826-27.     Lewis  Bates 

1828.  Thomas  G.  Brown 
Hector  Bronson 
S.  Davis 

1829.  S.  Davis 

1830.  Reuben  Ransom 
1 8^ i.  Moseley  Dwight 
1832.  P.  T.  Kenney 

1 833-35.     Freeman  Nutting 
Amos  D.  Simpson 

1836-37.     David  Todd 
W.  Wilcutt 
T.  T.  Blanchard 

1838.  T-  Nichols 

1839.  T.  W.  Guile 

1840.  A.  Holwav 


PASTORS. 
1841. 

1842-43. 

1844. 

1845. 
1846. 

1847-48. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 

1852-53- 
1854. 

1855-56. 

1857- 

1858. 
1859. 


C.  C.  Barnes 
M.  Stoddarcl 
L.  Pierce 
C.  Field,  Jr. 
Isaac  Arnold 
W.  O.  Cady 

E.  A.  Standish 
A.  H.  Robinson 
L.  N.  Turner 

J.  R.  Vail 
Charles  Morse 
J.  Cooper 
J.  W.  Case 
A.  W.  Allen 
H.  Torbush 
William  Turkington 

F.  Gibson 

H.  P.  Shepard 
George  H.  Whitney 
W.  H.  Wardell 
A.  Gould 
William  Hurst 
William  Phillips 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


35 


1860-65. 

1866. 

1867-68. 

1869. 

1870-71. 

1872-73. 

I874-75- 
1876-77. 
1878-79. 


Thomas  G.  Brown  1882. 

and  others.  1883. 

O.  E.  Thayer  1884-85. 

Mellen  Howard  1886-88. 

J.  S.  Thomas  1889. 

Anthony  Palmer  1890-91. 
George  H.  Winchester    1892. 

A.  W.  Paige  1893-96. 
J.  F.  Sheffield 
William  Kirkby 

E.  M.  Anthony  1897. 


H.  M.  Cole 
J.  H.  Sherman 
George  H.  Lamson 

E.  J.  Ayres 

V.  W.  Mattoon 
John  Pearce 
M.  T.  Braley 
W.  S.  Foster 
S.  T.  Patterson  finishing 
the  latter  half  of  1896. 

F.  W.  Coleman 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — William  W.  Duff,  G.  H.  Buckland,  J.  S.  Markham, 
H.  S.  Gates,  Jessie  R.  Clark,  J.  H.  Worthington,  W.  Dickson,  W.  Sex- 
ton, Frank  J.  Gates. 

Stezvards — W.  Dickson,  J.  E.  Clark,  Henry  S.  Gates,  J.  S.  Mark- 
ham,  H.  J.  Worthington,  J.  R.  Clark,  F.  J.  Gates,  Harlow  Hills,  S.  K. 
White,  William  Duff. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Frank  Clark;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Fannie  Markham. 

Teachers — J.  S.  Markham,  B.  A.  Hills,  Rev.  F.  W.  Coleman, 
Charles  Crosby,  Rev.  S.  H.  Lamson,  Miss  Sadie  Gates,  Miss  Ida  Clark, 
Mrs.  L.  Winstanly,  Mrs.  L.  Barton,  Mrs.  F.  H.  Barton,  Miss 
X.  Nichols. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Fannie  Markham;  Vice-Presi- 
dents,  Rev.  F.  W.  Coleman,  Charles  Crosby,  Miss  Maud  Clark,  Mrs. 
S.  K.  White,  Harlow  Hills. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  THOMPSON,  CONN. 

The  early  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  East 
Thompson  is  necessarily  somewhat  incomplete.  There  is  no  record  as 
to  when  the  class  was  organized,  nor  who  were  the  first  members. 

For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  the  building  of  the  church  in 

1843,  meetings  were  held  in 
the  schoolhouse.  Among  the 
little  band  of  devout  worship- 
ers were  two  exhorters,  Asa 
Sheldon  and  Parson  Tourte- 
lotte.  These  faithful  laborers 
kept  up  the  meetings,  and 
when  there  was  no  one  from 
out  of  the  place  to  preach 
they  with  zeal  and  earnest- 
ness expounded  the  Word 
and  exhorted  the  people  to 
"flee  from  the  wrath  to 
continued  to  do  with  their 


EAST  THOMPSON  CHURCH. 


come."  After  the  church  was  built  they 
might  what  their  hands  found  to  do. 

There  was  a  number  of  workers  who  came  from  adjacent  towns. 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  Hezekiah  Davis  from  Dudley  and  the 
Foster  brothers,  Otis  and  Rufus, 
from  Webster.  Occasionally  a 
Grove  Meeting  was  held,  when  all 
the  people  became  co-laborers  to- 
gether for  the  salvation  of  the  peo- 
ple. Their  labors  were  not  in  vain, 
as  many  were  turned  to  the  Lord. 
After  the  church  was  built 


was    bunt    a 

good  man,  Otis  Perrin,  came  from 
Woodstock  to  supply  the  pulpit. 

During  the  present  pastorate  a 
barn  was  erected,  valued  at  $200, 
and  the  church  repaired  to  the  ex- 
tent of  about  $500. 

PASTORS. 


1843.  Otis  Perrin  1853. 

1844.  William  Hurd  1854-55. 
1845-46.  Albert  Parks  1856-57. 
1847-48.  Daniel  Dorchester  1857. 
1849-50.  Peter  S.  Mather  1858. 
1851-52.  Thomas  W.  Douglas  1859-60. 


REV.    J.    H.    BAKER. 

Isaac  Sherman 
Daniel  Bradbury 
James  H.  Soule 
Isaac  Sherman 
John  Holmes 
John  W.  Case 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  37 

1861-62.  Walter  Ela  1878-80.  William  E.  Taylor 

1863.  George  A.  Morse  1881-83.  S.  V.  B.  Cross 

1864.  Henry  H.  Arnold  1884.  Frederick  A.  Crafts 
1865-67.  Denison  L.  Brown  1885.  Heflin  S.  Smith 

1868.  L.  D.  Bently  1886-87.  Asa  N.  Bodfish 

1869.  Isaac  Sherman  1888.  E.  G.  Babcock 

1870.  T.  B.  Gurney  1889-90.  T.  C.  Denman 

1871.  F.  D.  Goodrich  1891-92.  Joseph  Jackson 

1872.  De  Witt  C.  House  1893-94.  L.  H.  Massey 
1873-74.  Nelson  Goodrich  :895.  J.  Harding  Baker 
1875-77.  Samuel  Fox 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — G.  H.  Wilbur,  Ira  N.  Porter,  Charles  Tourtelotte,  Silas 
R.  loslin,  Chester  L.  Robbins,  Alonzo  O.  Woodard. 

Stewards — George  H.  Wilbur,  Ira  A.  Porter,  Silas  R.  Joslin,  Ches- 
ter L.  Robbins,  David  N.  Porter,  Alexander  White,  Alonzo  O.  Wood- 
ard, Charles  Tourtelotte,  Orrin  E.  Tourtelotte,  Mrs.  Mary  R.  Sherman, 
Miss  Mary  Jacobs,  Mrs.  Levina  Joslin,  Mrs.  Winnie  Wilbur  (R.  S.). 

Class  Leader — G.  H.  Wilbur. 

Local  Preachers — Orrin  E.  Tourtelotte,  George  H.  Wilbur. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  G.  H.  Wilbur;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Mrs.  Lizzie  Robbins;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Mary 
Jacobs;  Librarian,  George  J.  Blake. 

Teachers — Luther  D.  Robbins,  Silas  R.  Joslin,  Mrs.  Jennie  Robin- 
son, Mrs.  Lizzie  Robbins,  Miss  Mary  Jacobs,  Miss  Fannie  Robbins, 
Miss  Richie  Sherman. 

Epworth  League — President,  Alexander  White;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Miss  Fannie  Robbins;  Second  Vice- President,  Mrs.  Ella  Hayle; 
Third  Vice-President,  G.  H.  Wilbur;  Secretary,  Earnest  A.  Robbins; 
Treasurer,  Ira  N.  Porter;  Collector,  Miss  Richie  Sherman. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  WOODSTOCK,  CONN. 

The  first  Methodist  class  in  East  Woodstock  was  formed  October 
2,  1827,  with  John  Chaffee,  a  very  devout  man,  as  first  class  leader,  but 
not  until  twenty  years  later  (1847)  was  a  pastor  sent,  Rev.  Benjamin  M. 
Walker,  of  precious  memory,  being  then  appointed  first  preacher  in 
charge. 

For  five  years  meetings  were  held  in  "The  Brick  Hall"  (so  called) 
until  1852,  when  a  house  of  worship,  erected  years  before  in  West 
Woodstock,  was  taken  down  and  removed  to  East  Woodstock,  in  which 
services  have  been  held  ever  since.  The  second  class  leader  was  Hosea 
Chaffee. 

The  following  facts  were  gathered  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Bennett  in  1886 
(at  which  time  he  was  pastor  here),  and  formed  a  part  of  an  address 


EAST     WOODSTOCK     CHURCH. 

delivered  by  him.  Col.  Jonathan  May,  in  charge  of  a  mill  in  East 
Woodstock  (called  then  Muddy  Brook),  in  1826  hired  Mrs.  Sylvester 
Stanley,  a  widow.  A  stanch  Methodist,  Mrs.  Stanley  had  been  wont 
before  coming  here  to  open  her  doors  for  Methodist  meetings.  Soon 
she  invited  an  itinerant  to  preach.  Colonel  May  forbade  her  repeating 
this.  "Colonel  May,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley,  "we  have  faithfully  worked 
for  you."  "Yes,  but,"  said  the  Colonel.  "No  'buts'  about  it,"  she  con- 
tinued. "I  live  in  my  own  hired  house,  and  shall  worship  my  God  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  my  own  conscience.  If  I  cannot  do  so  here, 
I  shall  be  compelled  to  go  where  I  can."  Thus  it  ended.  Mrs.  Stan- 
ley and  her  children  were  too  good  help  to  discharge.  Her  heroism 
made  her  many  friends.  Rev.  E.  S.  Stanley  was  one  of  her  children. 
In  East  Woodstock,  at  seven  years  of  age,  he  called  other  chil- 
dren together  on  "Factory  Street,"  to  tell  them  the  sinfulness  of  swear- 
ing and  Sabbath  breaking.  Mr.  Stanley  looks  back  to  this  as  the  be- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


39 


BAST;     WOODSTOCK     PARSONAGE. 


ginning  of  his  very  useful  ministry.  A  revival  followed  the  meetings  in 
Mrs.  Stanley's  house,  until  within  two  years  a  class  of  forty-five  mem- 
bers, organized  October  2,  1827,  declared  Methodism  "come  to  stay" 
in  East  Woodstock.  John  Chaffee  was  the  first  class  leader.  Among 
the  circuit  preachers  in  those  olden  days  was  that  true  and  noble  man, 
Rev.  O.  Robbins.  He  was  still  living  and  a  resident  of  East  Wood- 
stock during  the  writer's  first  pastorate  here,  in  1869-70.  He  was 
always  kind  and  heavenly- 
minded,  and  was  still  able  to 
exhort  and  pray  "as  one  in- 
spired." At  this  point  in  the 
history  of  Methodism  in  East 
Woodstock,  Conn.,  Captain 
Nathaniel  Jones  deserves  espe- 
cial mention.  Methodist  preach- 
ers he  gladly  welcomed,  and 
when,  in  1828,  strife  ensued 
from  an  attempt  to  hold  meet- 
ings in  the  village  schoolhouse, 
having  the  means,  he  ended  it 
by  adding  to  his  own  house  a 

two-story  L,  arching  the  upper  story,  the  L  being  about  fifty  feet  long. 
Here,  in  "Captain  Jones'  own  hall,"  the  Methodists  wrought  for  the 
Master.  Not  far  from  this  time  a  new  schoolhouse  ,vas  built,  and 
money  was  raised  by  the  more  liberal-minded  to  add  a  story  for  a  hall. 
This  was  done,  although  this  hall  was  seldom  used  by  the  Methodists 
until  1847,  when  Rev.  Benjamin  M.  Walker,  East  Woodstock's 
first  Methodist  pastor,  began  regular  preaching  services  therein.  In 
this  "Brick  Hall,"  as  it  is  now  called,  the  Methodist  pastors  "declared 
glad  tidings"  for  about  five  years.  Then  Rev.  Daniel  Dorchester,  in 
the  second  year  of  his  pastorate,  seconded  by  his  people,  successfully 
sought  to  build  a  house  of  worship  in  East  Woodstock.  This  was  done 
by  buying  the  house  in  West  Woodstock  and  removing  it  here.  This 
is  the  present  house  of  worship.  During  L.  D.  Bentley's  pastorate 
and  also  to  some  extent  since,  repairs  and  changes  have  been  made, 
Thomas  Milligan,  who  joined  the  church  about  that  time,  contributing 
liberally,  with  others,  for  the  purpose. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Child  Cooms  gave  the  society  her  house  near  the 
church,  possession  being  taken  after  her  decease,  a  few  years  since.  It 
makes  a  pleasant  itinerants'  home. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1847.  Benjamin  M.  Walker 

1848-49.     William  Turkington 


1850.          J.  W.  Sheffield 
1851-52.     Daniel  Dorchester 


These  four  preached  in  what  we  call  "The  Brick  Hall,"  the  church 
being  built  in  1852,  Mr.  Dorchester  preaching  in  it  during  a  part  of 
the  second  year.  Henry  W.  Smith  preached  in  1853.  He  was  killed 
in  the  Black  Hills  by  Indians,  August  25,  1876. 


I854-55- 
1856-57- 
1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861-62. 

1863. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869-70. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873-74. 


John  D.  King  1875-76. 

David  Bradbury  1877. 
Caleb  Sanford 

Nathan  Culver  1878. 

G.  D.  Boynton  1879. 

Samuel  A.  Windsoi  1880-81. 
William  S.  Simmons         1882-84. 

Horace  Moulton  1885-86. 

Daniel  Pratt  1887-88. 

Mellen  Howard  1889-90. 

D.  G.  Ashley  1891. 

Merrick  Ramon  1892. 

Otis  E.  Thayer  1893-94. 

L.  D.  Bentley  1895. 

Tabez  Park  1896. 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 


S.  B.  Chase 
William  R.  Mays 
George  H.  Chappell 
E.  L.  Latham 
William  Turkington 
S.  Anndon 
George  D.  Bentley 

A.  H.  Bennett 
Daniel  Brown 
Francis  B.  White 

B.  C.  Denman 
W.  R.  Whelon 
J.  J.  Adams 
Joseph  Richardson 
Otis  E.  Thaver 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Recording  Steward — William  Myers. 

Class  Leader — Edwin  Farrows. 

Sunday  School — William  J.  Myers,  Superintendent;  George  L. 
Wilcox,  Assistant  Superintendent;  Henry  Moore,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer. 

Teachers — John  Gage,  Thomas  Bradshaw,  Mrs.  Moffitt,  Mrs.  H. 
M.  Gardner,  Mrs.  Webber. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  GALE'S  FERRY,  CONN. 
By  D.  C.  Perkins. 

Of  the  formation  and  early  history  of  the  first  Methodist  Society 
in  Gale's  Ferry  but  little  can  be  ascertained. 

It  appears  that  Dr.  George  Roberts  preached  a  sermon  here  in  the 
open  air  July,  1/93,  to  a  large  congregation.  This  was  followed  by 


THE   GALE'S  FERRY   CJ 


preaching  occasionally  by  different  men,  until  1803.  About  this  time 
the  old  Separatist  Congregational  Church,  standing  about  three  miles 
from  Gale's  Ferry,  on  the  road  to  Ledyard  Center,  was  moved  to  the 
site  of  the  present  church,  and  among  the  ministers  who  preached 
occasionally  were  Amos  T.  Thompson,  Jesse  Stoneman,  Daniel  Os- 
trander,  Timothy  Dewey  and  Lorenzo  Dow. 

In  1803  Gale's  Ferry  was  taken  into  the  New  London  Circuit  by 
Aaron  Hunt  and  Benjamin  Hill. 

In  May  of  the  same  year  a  class  was  formed,  consisting  of  eight 
persons — Ralph  Hurlbutt,  Jon- 
athan Stoddard  and  wife,  Na- 
than Avery  and  wife,  Hannah 
Hurlbutt,  Lydia  Stanton  and 
Lucy  Hurlbutt.  Ralph  Hurlbutt 
was  appointed  class  leader,  and 
the  same  year  eleven  more 
were  added. 

In  1806  Mr.  Hurlbutt  was 
licensed  to  exhort,  and  in  1810 
he  obtained  a  local  preacher's 
license.  He  preached  until  1840.  THE  GALE'S  FERRY  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


During  this  time  the  people  were  addressed  once  in  two  weeks  by 
the  circuit  preachers. 

From  1840  to  1846  other  ministers  assisted  Mr.  Hurlbutt,  until  in 


THOMAS   LATHAM. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


JOHN   E.   PERKINS. 


1846  his  health  failing,  when  Daniel  Dorchester,  Mr.  Dixon  and  others 
supplied  the  place  until  1851.    Mr.  Dunham  was  then  stationed  here. 


CHAUTAUQUA  CIRCLE. 


In  1857,  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  E.  Heald,  a  building  committee 
of  three  was  formed,  Christopher  Allyn,  John  E.  Perkins  and  Ralph 
Stoddard,  and  the  present  church  was  built,  costing  $3,221.  The 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


available  funds  and  subscriptions  being  insufficient,  the  committee  as- 
sumed the  remaining  debt,  being  secured  by  a  mortgage  on  the  prop- 
erty of  $969.75,  which  was  canceled  a  few  years  later. 

The  new  church  was  dedicated  October  2,  1859.  The  sermon  in 
the  morning  was  by  Rev.  G.  F.  Cox  and  in  the  evening  by  Robert 
Parsons. 

An  addition  was  built  to  the  parsonage  during  the  pastorate  of 
William  Taylor.  The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  sixty-two,  and 
a  fund  of  $3,000,  at  interest,  the  two  largest  bequests  being  a  gift  of 
$1,000  by  Hibbard  R.  Norman  and  sister,  and  another  of  $1,000  by 
Hannah  J.  Norman. 

An  interesting  Chautauqua  Circle  is  connected  with  the  church. 


1806-46.     Ralph  Hurlbutt 
1846-50.     Daniel  Dorchester 
Mr.  Dixon 


DUDLEY    C.    PERKINS. 


PASTORS. 

1851. 
1852. 

1853- 

I854-55- 

1856-57- 

1858-59. 

1860-62. 

1863-65. 

1866-67. 

1868-70. 

1871-73. 

i874-75- 
1876-78. 
1879-81. 
1882-84. 
1885-86. 
1887-91. 
1892-94. 
1895-96. 
1897. 


Mr.  Dunham 

E.  F.  Hinks 
O.  Huse 

G.  W.  Case 
G.  E.  Heald 
L.  D.  Bentley 
David  Bradbury 
Warren  Emerson 
G.  D.  Boynton 
D.  G.  Ashley 
J.  M.  Worcester 

F.  C.  Newell 
William  Turkington 
Nelson  Goodrich 
W.  M.  Turkington 
C.  H.  Dalrymple 
William  A.  Taylor 
Thomas  Denman 
John  Q.  Adams 

J.  B.  Ackley 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — C.  L.  G.  Chapman,  Frank  Norman,  J.  E.  Perkins. 
D.  C.  Perkins,  C.  A.  Satterlee,  Thomas  Latham. 

Stewards — J.  E.  Perkins,  Thomas  Latham,  C.  A.  Brown,  D.  C. 
Perkins,  C.  H.  Chapman,  C.  L.  G.  Chapman,  Courtland  Colver,  Mrs. 
Susan  Satterlee,  Mrs.  Frances  Rogers,  Mrs.  Daniel  Palmer,  Mrs. 
J.  E.  Perkins. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Thomas  Latham;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, D.  C.  Perkins;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Alice  Sat- 
terlee; Librarian,  Courtland  Colver;  Organist,  Mrs.  Hannah  Chapman. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Daniel  Palmer,  Mrs.  Sarah  Colver,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Latham,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Perkins,  Miss  Kate  Colver,  Miss  Hattie  Brown, 
Rev.  J.  B.  Ackley  and  Miss  Laura  Perkins. 

Chautauqua  Circle — J.  B.  Ackley,  President;  D.  C.  Perkins,  Yice- 
President;  Emma  Davis,  Treasurer;  Laura  Perkins,  Secretary. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  GARDNER  LAKE,  CONN. 

In  the  year  1831  a  glorious  revival  took  place  in  Montville,  near 
Gardner  Lake,  through  the  labors  of  John  Whittelsy  and  Azel  Otis, 
two  local  preachers.  A  society  was  formed  August  i,  1831,  by  Orange 
Scott,  Presiding  Elder  on  the  Springfield  District, and  Reuben  Ransom 
and  Mosley  Dwight,  preachers  on  Hebron  Circuit. 

Conference  preachers  and  local  preachers  continued  to  hold  meet- 
ings in  the  schoolhouses  and  groves  until  the  Spring  of  1835,  when 
Ezra  Withey  was  appointed  by  the  New  England  Conference  to  Un- 
casville  and  Montville  (Gardner  Lake).  J.  F.  Blanchard  and  Charles 
Carter  were  his  colleagues.  The  churches  both  at  Montville  and  Un- 
casville  were  built  that  year. 

There  is  no  reliable  record  of  the  names  of  the  early  preachers 
at  Montville.  But  we  find  that  Freeman  Nutting,  Walter  Wilkey, 


REV.   G.    W.    CRABB. 


W.    R.    PARKINSON, 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


Lozien  Pierce,  Henry  Torbush,  J.  Cardwell,  Oliver  Beckwith,  Sidney 
Dean,  Joseph  Weaver,  George  Burnham,  W.  W.  Hurd,  Edward  B. 
Hinckley,  Erastus  Benton  and  Daniel  Dorchester  and  probably  others 
supplied  the  Montville  pulpit  from  the  Spring  of  1836  to  1843.  At  this 
time  Jesse  B.  Denison  was  stationed  there  as  preacher  in  charge.  He 
seems  to  have  had  quite  a  revival,  a  large  number  being  taken  into  the 
church  in  the  two  years  that  he  was  stationed  there. 

Under  the  labors  of  George  R.  Bentley,  1872-74,  a  revival  took 
place  and  a  number  were  added  to  the  church.  Since  then  removals 
from  the  society  and  death  have  decreased  the  membership. 

There  has  been  no  particular  excitement  under  the  present  pas- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


45 


torate,  but  the  Holy  Ghost  has  been  manifested  in  great  power  at 
times.  Thirty  have  been  added  to  the  church  in  full  membership  and 
nine  probationers. 

The  interior  of  the  church  has  been  painted  and  decorated,  and 
the  outside  painted.  A  parsonage  and  barn  have  been  built,  costing 
about  $1,200. 

PASTORS  SINCE  1844. 

1845.  G.  S.  Judd  1866.  George  R.  Bentley 

1846.  Abraham  Holloway  1867-70.  Joseph  H.  Phillips 

1847.  M.  Leffingwell  1871.  Henry  Torbush 
1848-49.  Edmond  Standish  1872-74.  George  R.  Bentley 
1850-52.  W.  Dixon  1875-76.  G.  D.  Boynton 
1853-54.  W.  Phillips  1877-79.  George  R.  Bentley 

1855.  G.  D.  Boynton  1880.  Hugh  Montgomery 

1856.  Manuel  Kinney  1881-82.  H.  N.  Brown 
1859-60.  Phineas  Crandall  1883.  N.  G.  Lippett 
1861-62.  Henry  Torbush  1891.  T-  F.  Sheffield 
1862-63.  J.  B.  Bishop  1892.  C.  A.  Purdy 

'1864-65.     Lorenzo  D.  Bentley         1893.          G.  W.  Crabb 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — James  Manwarring,  F.  P.  Ladd,  George  A.  Gardner. 

Stewards — George  N.  Ford  (D.  S.),  George  A.  Gardner  (R.  S.). 
D.  Y.  Miner,  F.  D.  Miner,  A.  F.  Gardner,  Frank  Austin,  Theo.  Leh- 
mann,  Ely  Gardner,  Mrs.  M.  Iva  Gardner,  Fannie  Gardner  and  Susan 
Austin. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  R.  Parkinson;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  George  A.  Gardner;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  F.  D. 
Miner;  Librarian,  Theo  Lehmann. 

Teachers — George  W.  Crabb,  George  A.  Gardner,  M.  Iva  Gard- 
ner, Anna  C.  Crabb,  Mrs.  E.  F.  Yerrington. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  GREENE,  R.  I. 

At  the  instance  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Rider,  Whipple  Phillips  and  wife. 
Lyman  Davis  and  wife,  and  Stephen  Damon  and  wife,  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  formed  at  Greene,  R.  I. 

As  there  had  been  no  religious  service  in  the  community  for  a 
long  period,  these  friends  of  Methodism,  having  a  superior  insight  of 
the  high  importance  and  spiritual  needs  of  the  place,  labored  earnestly 
to  establish  divine  worship  here.  As  others  were  well  inclined  towards 
the  movement,  an  effectual  door  was  opened.  In  the  Spring  of  1873 
Mr.  Phillips  kindly  threw  open  his  commodious  hall  for  the  accommo- 


SOUi'ENIR  HISTORY. 


dation  of  the  worshipers.  The  church  was  organized  in  the  Fall  of 
1873,  and  Stephen  Damon  was  appointed  class  leader.  Rev.  J.  Q. 
Adams,  who  was  then  pastor  at  South  Scituate,  R.  I.,  united  this 
charge  to  his  labors,  and  served  faithfully  until  the  ensuing  Conference, 
when  G.  W.  Hunt  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge,  during  whose 
pastorate  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected. 

It  was  dedicated  by  the  Presiding  Elder,  G.  W.  Brewster,  Octo- 
ber 4,  1876.  The  building  accommodates  about  200  persons,  and  its 
cost  was  $1,500. 

An  act  to  incorporate  the  Trustees  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Greene 
was  passed  March  i,  1876.  The  Trustees  were  G.  W.  Rider,  S.  Da- 
mon, E.  E.  Rider.  After  the  organization  of  the  church,  business  con- 
tinued to  flourish  in  this  section  for  a  considerable  time.  The  church 
was  then  an  efficient  agency  for  good,  a  fruitful  garden  of  the  Lord. 

It  is  to  be  lamented  that  there  came  an  ebb  in  the  tide  of  affairs 
which  compelled  several  of  its  members  and  many  people  of  the  vicin- 
ity to  secure  their  livelihood  elsewhere. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  E.  J.  Sampson 
the  church  underwent  necessary  repairs  and  was  re-dedicated  Decem- 
ber 31,  1895,  by  the  Presiding  Elder,  G.  H.  Bates. 


1873- 
1874. 

1875- 
1876. 


1886. 


J.  Q.  Adams 
G.  W.  Hunt 
Nelson  Goodrich 
L.  E.  Dunham 
G.  W.  Hunt 
G.  E.  Brightman 
Stanton  Austin 


PASTORS. 
1887. 


1894. 

1895-96. 

1897. 


Charles  Smith 
H.  Cartledge 
J.  Jackson 
C.  B.  Bromley 
E.  J.  Sampson 
T.  W.  Douglass 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Emma  F.  Borden,  Sirena  B.  Davis,  George  N.  Rider,  Lucinda 
Rider,  A.  Aldrich,  Martha  Aldrich,  William  S.  Wright. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Emma  F.  Borden;  Secretary, 
Mary  F.  Sampson ;  Treasurer,  Martha  Aldrich. 

Teachers — Bates  Potter,  Mary  F.  Sampson,  Emma  F.  Borden. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  GURLEYVILLE,  MANSFIELD,  CONN. 

The  first  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Mansfield  was  erected  at 
Wormwood  Hill  in  1797.  This  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the 
M.  E.  Society  until  1826,  when,  on  account  of  disagreement  between 
the  Ecclesiastical  societies,  a  portion  of  the  society  withdrew  and  built 


THE  GURLEYVILLE  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 

a  church  in  Gurleyville  on  the  site  of  the  present  one.  This  church  was 
dedicated  in  1827.  Mr.  Osburn  of  Manchester  preached  the  dedicatory 
sermon.  This  building  was  occupied  until  1847,  when  the  present 
church  was  erected,  Daniel  Wise  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon. 


REV.    B.   P.    RAYNOR. 


MRS.  B.  P.  RAYNOR. 


Iii  1889  the  church  edifice  was  extensively  repaired,  the  building  newly 
furnished,  a  furnace  put  in  and  bell  placed  in  the  tower,  through  the 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


efforts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  V.  B.  Cross.  The  church  was  rededicated 
at  this  time,  Eben  Tirrell  preaching  the  sermon.  The  greatest  revival 
in  the  history  of  the  church  occurred  under  the  labors  of  L.  D.  Bentley. 
in  1850.  Many  souls  have  been  born  of  God  and  added  to  the  church 
from  time  to  time,  and  all  through  her  history  she  has  had  noble 
and  devoted  friends.  The  present  membership  of  the  church  numbers 
seventy-five. 

PASTORS. 

Thomas  Smith 

1807.  Hollis  Sampson 
G.  R.  Norris 

1808.  B.  F.  Lambord 

1809.  Benjamin  Hill 
William  Hinman 

1810.  Joel  Steel 
Samuel  Cutler 

1811.  Philip  Munger 
Robert  Arnold 

1812.  Charles  Marble 
T.  W.  Tasker 

1813.  Edward  Hyde 
P.  E.  Sabin 
Benjamin  Sabin 

1814.  Joel  Winch 
Joel  Pratt 

1815.  W.  Marsh 
Orin  Roberts 

1816.  Solomon  Winchester 
Nathan  Payne 

1817.  B.  Sabin 

S.  Winchester 

1818.  Leonard  Bennett 
H.  Davis 

1819.  Leonard  Bennett 
F.  Dane 

1820.  E.  Blake 

D.  Dorchester 

1822.  Joel  W.  McKee 
Allen  Barnes 

1823.  Joseph  Ireson 
John  W.  Case 

1824.  Moses  Fifield 
Joseph  Ireson 

1825.  E.  Fink 

B.  F.  Lambord 
M.  Frink 

1826.  E.  Otis 

P.  E.  Fletcher 
D.  L.  Fletcher 

C.  D.  Rogers 


MRS.    CHARLOTTE    TURNER. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


1792. 

i/93- 
1/94- 

1795- 
1796. 

1797-98. 
1798. 
1800. 
1801. 

1802. 
1803. 

1804. 
1805. 

1806. 


George  Roberts 
Joseph  Lovell 
Samuel  Smith 
G.  Pershing 
Christopher  Sprey 
W.  Snethen 
Evan  Rogers 
Thomas  Cooper 
L.  M.  Combs 
Daniel  Ostrander 
Abner  Wood 
Augustus  Joslin 
Henry  Earns 
Elijah  Bachelor 
A.  M.  Lane 
A.  Joslin 
E.  Bachelor 
John  G. 


Noble  A.  Thomas 
Benjamin  Hill 
John  Tinkham 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


49 


1827. 
1828. 
1829. 

1830. 
1831. 


1832. 
1833- 

1834. 
1835-36. 

1837- 

1838. 
1839. 
1840. 
1841. 

1842. 

1843- 

1844-45. 

1846. 

1847- 
1848. 


E.  Otis  1849-50. 

Rufus  Spaulcling  1851. 

Herman  Perry  1852-53. 

George  Stone  l&54- 

H.  S.  Ramsdell  1855-56. 

P.  Townsend  J85/. 

H.  Moulton  1858. 

J.  W.  Case  1859. 

J.  E.  Risley  1860. 

P.  Townsend  1861-62. 
H.  S.  Ramsdell 

E.  M.  Bebee  1863-65. 

J.  Haskell  1866-67. 

Henry  Mayo  1868-70. 

Samuel  Heath  1871-73. 

Windsor  Ward  1874. 

E.  B.  Bradford  1875-76. 

B.  M.  Walker  1877. 

William  Wolcott  1878-79. 

M.  S.  Leonard  1 880-81. 

H.  Torbush  1882. 

Elias  Scott  1883. 

Erastus  Benton  1884. 
Abraham  Holway 

L.  Pierce  1885-86. 
P.  T.  Kenney,  P.  E.  1887. 

M.  P.  Alderman  1888-89. 
Edward  A.  Standish  1890. 

J.  Blackmer  1891. 

William  Bevens  1892-94. 
William  Turkington  1895-97. 
R.  Albiston 


L.  D.  Bentley 
Peter  Mather 
J.  W.  Case 
J.  H.  Soul 
Albert  M.  Allen 
G.  D.  Boynton 
J.  W.  Case 
F.  C.  Newell 
F.  C.  Newell 
Zita  Loveland 
I.  Jones 

David  Bradbury 
Jabez  Pack 
T.  W.  Douglass 
J.  O.  Dodge 

D.  J.  Griffin 
L.  W.  Blood 

E.  L.  Latham 
James  Tregaskis 
J.  S.  Thomas 
John  G.  Gammons 
C.  H.  Dalrymple 
William  W.  Ellis 
H.  H.  Arnold 
Daniel  Brown 

W.  C.  Norris 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 

F.  A.  Ferguson 
John  Livesey 

J.  Harding  Baker 
B.  F.  Raynor 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees S.  D.  Yeomans,  Edward  Smith,  Otis  Conant,  Philo 

Har«ks,  George  A.  Walker,  Hyzer  Simons,  Henry  White. 

Stewards — Edward  Smith,  Hyzer  Simons,  Henry  Nason,  Henry 
White,  Martha  Yeomans,  George  A.  Walker,  Mary  Simons,  S.  D. 
Yeomans,  Albert  Summer,  Phoebe  Hanks,  Ellen  Wilkins,  Agnes  Dim- 
mock,  Fremont  Dunham. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Charlotte  Turner;  Assistant  Su- 
peiintendent,  George  A.  Walker;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Charlotte 
Walker;  Librarian,  Edith  Nason. 

Teachers — Samuel  D.  Yeomans,  Martha  Yeomans,  Ellen  S.  Wil- 
kins, Mary  Simons,  Lucy  Smith,  Mariette  Walker,  B.  F.  Raynor. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HAZARDVILLE,  CONN. 

In  1830  a  class  was  formed  at  Scitico,  and  soon  after  another  at 
Jaw  Buck.  The  use  of  a  schoolhouse  was  then  obtained,  where  once 
in  two  weeks  preaching  services  were  held  by  the  preachers  of  the 

East  Windsor  Circuit.  The  school- 
house  soon  became  too  small  to  ac- 
commodate the  increasing  numbers 
of  worshipers.  The  time  had  come 
to  build,  and  a  church  edifice  was 
erected,  costing  $1,200,  and  was 
dedicated  December  I,  1835. 

This  church  was  literally  located 
in  the  woods,  yet  its  location  was 
wisely  chosen.  The  Hazard  Pow- 
der Company  had  established  its 
important  plant  in  that  vicinity, 
making  it  certain  that  quite  a  vil- 
lage would  soon  spring  into  exist- 
ence. Hazardville  was  made  an  in- 
dependent charge  in  1838.  Walter 
Wilkie  was  its  first  preacher. 

He  reported  at  the  close  of  the 
year  a  membership  of  seventy-six. 
THE  HAZARDVILLE  CHURCH.         At  the  close  of  1840  the  membership 

had  risen  to  173.     In  1842  the  first 

parsonage  was  built.  In  1844  the  charge  first  appeared  under  the  name 
of  Scitico.  The  bell  was  purchased  this  year,  and  for  fifty-two  years 
has  been  calling  the  people  to  the  house  of  prayer.  At  about  this  time 
the  salary  of  the  preacher  was  $300.  The  missionary  collection  was 
about  $32. 

In  1848  the  parsonage  was 
sold,  and  one  more  commo- 
dious and  more  convenient  to 
the  church  was  built.  During 
tne  pastorate  of  Caleb  S.  San- 
ford,  1853-54,  the  church 
building  was  enlarged  and  im- 
proved at  an  expense  of  $2,- 
200.  The  church  was  mani- 
festing a  decidedly  progressive 
spirit.  This  building,  how- 
ever, did  not  long  suffice  for 
this  aggressive  and  growing 
society.  THE  HAZARDVILLE  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  5! 

In  1870,  under  the  administration  of  James  Mather,  the  matter  of 
building  a  more  desirable  house  of  worship  began  to  be  agitated. 
Funds  were  pledged  and  a  building  committee  was  chosen,  consisting 


REV.    P.    M.    VINTON. 


MRS.  P.  M.  VINTON. 


of  A.  D.  Bridge,  F.  T.  Smith,  Edward  Prickett,  David  Gordon  and 
George  Bridge.  These  were  strong  men  and  true.  Under  their  super- 
vision a  handsome  and  commodious  temple  of  worship  was  erected. 


A.    D.   BRIDGE. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


W.    W.   GORDON. 
President  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. 


The  structure  was  of  brick  and  would  be  an  ornament  to  any  town  or 
-city.  It  was  dedicated  in  August,  1872.  Dr.  James  Porter  preached 
•the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  work  of  improvement  did  not  end  here. 


52  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

A  better  parsonage  must  be  built.  Most  of  the  money  required,  be- 
yond the  proceeds  of  the  old  parsonage,  was  given  by  the  members  of 
the  official  board,  Edward  Prickett  contributing  the  generous  sum  of 
$1,250.  This  beautiful  house  was  completed  in  1876,  and  was  fur- 
nished by  the  ladies  at  an  expense  of  over  $500. 

The  total  value  of  church  property  at  this  time  was  $28,799.  A 
debt  of  $4,700  remained  on  the  society.  At  this  time  the  church  en- 
tered upon  a  period  of  great  spiritual  prosperity;  1855  was  a  semi-cen- 


EDWARD   PRICKETT. 


DAVID    GORDON. 


tennial  year  to  this  people,  and  in  the  joy  of  this  celebration  every  dol- 
lar of  debt  was  swept  away,  and  not  only  so,  but  a  fine  pipe  organ  was 
purchased  and  extensive  improvements  made.  The  total  amount  of 
money  raised  this  year  for  these  purposes  was  $6,369.  C.  W.  Gal- 
lagher, D.  D.,  was  pastor  at  this  time,  and  rendered  valuable  service  in 
all  this  work.  The  salary  of  the  preacher  was  fixed  at  $1,200,  and  has 
remained  thus  ever  since.  From;  that  time  to  the  present  the  church 
has  exerted  a  rapidly  widening  influence  for  good.  It  stands  to  the 
front  in  its  response  to  the  church  benevolences. 

In  1897  its  contributions  for  foreign  missions  alone  rose  to  the 
noble  sum  of  $1,167.  Th£  contributions  of  the  Sunday  School  this 
year  for  this  cause  were  $327.  The  outlook  of  the  church  has  never 
been  better. 


1 836-37- 
1838. 

1839- 
1840. 
1841. 


W.  Ward 
W.  Wilkie 
B.  M.  Walker 
J.  Howson 
W.  Emerson 


PASTORS. 

1843-44. 

1845. 

1846-47. 

1848. 

1849-50. 


L.  Leffingwell 
C.  W.  Turner 
W.  S.  Simmons 
A.  Gardner 
C.  Morse 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  53 

i8;i-52.  L.  W.  Blood  1872-73-  E-  H-  Hatfield 

1853-54.  C.  S.  Sanford  1874.  R.  Clark 

1855-56.  A.  Palmer  1875-77.  N.  G.  Axtell 

1857-58.  G.  W.  Rogers  1878.  G.  W.  Miller 

1859.  W.  Sheldon  1879-80.  S.  McBurney 

1860-61.  J.  F.  Sheffield  1881-83.  W.  Ela 

1862-63.  J.  Mather  1884-86.  C.  W.  Gallagher 

1864.   '  E.  B.  Bradford  1887-89.  W.  A.  Luce 

1865-66.  C.  A.  Merrill  1890-91.  W.  J.  Smith 

1867-69.  R.  Parsons  1892-94.  T.  J.  Everett 

1870-71.  J.  Mather  1895-97.  p-  M.  Vinton 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — George  Bridge,  George  B.  Gordon,  A.  D.  Bridge,  Ar- 
thur Colvin,  David  Gordon,  Edward  Prickett,  F.  W.  Parsons,  Ephraim 
Bridge. 

Stewards — William  Gordon,  David  Gordon,  Edward  Prickett, 
George  Bridge,  Andrew  Gordon,  Arthur  E.  Gordon,  H.  S.  Bridge, 
E.  D.  Prickett,  Olin  Olmstead,  H.  W.  Miner,  E.  E.  Randall  (R.  S.), 
W.  A.  Bridge,  Henry  Colvin. 

Class  Leader — A.  D.  Bridge. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  A.  D.  Bridge;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  H.  W.  Miner;  Librarian,  E.  J.  Bridge. 

Teachers — Edward  Prickett,  P.  M.  Vinton,  Mrs.  P.  M.  Vinton, 
G.  H.  Miner,  George  Whiton,  David  Gordon,  Effie  M.  Prickett,  Mrs. 
G.  H.  Miner,  Effie  G.  Gordon,  W.  W.  Gordon,  Ida  M.  Allen,  Mrs.  E. 
J.  Bridge,  Jennie  Wheeler,  M.  Eugenia  Pearl,  Cora  B.  Abbe,  Mary  L. 
Bridge,  Mrs.  G.  B.  Gordon,  Emily  Bridge,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Bridge. 

Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. — President,  W.  W.  Gordon;  Superintendent  Junior 
League,  Mrs.  P.  M.  Vinton;  Assistant  Junior  League,  Mrs.  Andrew 
Gordon;  President  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  Mrs.  George  Whiton;  Presi- 
dent W.  F.  M.  S.,  Mrs.  G.  B.  Gordon;  President  W.  H.  M.  S.,  Mrs. 
P.  M.  Vinton. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  JEWETT  CITY,  CONN. 
Prior  to  1874  there  had  been  no  regular  preaching-  nor  church  or- 
ganization in  Jewett  City.    There  was  a  Methodist  Church  at  Hope- 
ville,  of  which  Rev.  James  Tregaskis  was  pastor.    It  was  thought  best, 
as  there  were  a  few  Methodists  in  Jewett  City,  to  unite  with  Hopeville. 


THE  JEWETT  CITY  CHURCH. 


THE  JEWETT  CITY  PARSONAGE. 


At  the  Annual  Conference,  held  at  North  Bridgewater,  March  25,  1874, 
Mr.  Tregaskis  was  appointed  pastor  of  these  two  charges.  He  found 
but  seven  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Jewett  City, 
but  quite  a  number  that  were  in  sympathy  with  the  doctrines  of  our 
church.  With  that  zeal  which  is  characteristic  of  true  Methodism,  he 


REV.    M.   T.    BRAYLEY. 


FRED  A.   BROWN, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


secured  the  only  available  place,  Liberty  Hall,  and  held  his  first  preach- 
ing service  Sunday  evening,  April  12,  1874. 

A  class  and  Sunday  School  were  organized  May  3,  1874.    Revival 
services  were  commenced  September  13,  1874,  and  God  set  His  ap- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


55 


proval  upon  this  movement  by  the  outpouring  of  His  spirit  and  the 
salvation  of  scores  of  souls,  under  Mr.  Tregaskis'  preaching.  The 
church  was  organized  January  26,  1875,  and  Trustees  and  Stewards 
were  elected  by  the  Quarterly  Conference,  held  at  Hopeville. 

In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  people,  Jewett  City  was 
made  a  separate  charge  April  14,  1875,  and  the  Rev.  James  Tregaskis 
appointed  pastor.  Steps  were  immediately  taken  to  secure  a  house  to 
worship  in.  Success  crowned  their  efforts.  In  September,  1875,  the 
foundation  of  the  house  was  laid,  and  on  January  27,  1876,  the  church 
was  dedicated,  Rev.  Joseph  H.  James  preaching  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon. In  1890  a  very  pleasant  and  comfortable  parsonage  was  built, 
during  Rev.  Ambrie  Field's  pastorate.  The  church  is  greatly  indebted 
to  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Anthony,  a  supernumerary  of  this  Conference,  for 
the  efficient  service  which  he  has  rendered.  The  church  at  present  is 
prospering  and  doing  good  work  for  the  Master. 

PASTORS. 

1874-76.  James  Tregaskis  1888-89.  John  Thompson 

1877.  D-  J-  Griffin  1890.   '  Ambrie  Field 

1878-80.  G.  W.  Brewster  1890-91.  R.  H.  Eldridge 

1881-83.  Samuel  McKeown  1892.  Ambrie  Field 

1884.  Charles  H.  Dalrymple  1893-94.  Joseph  Jackson 

1885.  D.  S.  Brown  1895-97.  M-  T-  Braley 
1886-87.  Walter  P.  Buck 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Rev.  E.  M.  Anthony,  G.  H.  Bromley,  John  P.  Gorman, 
John  C.  Lewis,  Edmund  Wood,  Kingsley  Chapman,  Stephen  P.  Green, 
Jonathan  Niles,  L.  D.  Howe. 

Stewards — Rev.  E.  M.  Anthony,  Edmund  Wood,  John  P.  Gor- 
man, G.  H.  Bromley,  Fred  A.  Brown,  William  C.  Jeffers,  Kingsley 
Chapman,  John  Walpole,  Jonathan  Niles,  Adeline  A.  Gardiner,  Sadie 
A.  Jeffers,  Mary  J.  Wood,  Harriet  L.  Bromley. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Fred  A.  Brown ;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Robert  J.  Hall ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  John  P.  Gorman ; 
Librarian,  G.  H.  Bromley. 

Teachers— -M.  T.  Braley,  Rev.  E.  M.  Anthony,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Gar- 
diner, Mrs.  Annie  E.  Braley,  Edmund  Wood,  Miss  Clara  E.  Wood, 
Robert  J.  Hall,  Miss  Maud  L.  Barrett. 

Epworth  League — President,  M.  T.  Braley;  First  Vice-President, 
Miss  Clara  E.  Wood;  Second  Vice-President,  Lizzie  A.  Higgs;  Third 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Braley;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Sadie 
A.  Jeffers;  Fifth  Vice-President,  Fred  A.  Brown;  Sixth  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Mary  E.  Medbury. 

Junior  Epworth  League — Superintendent,  Miss  Clara  E.  Wood. 

Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society — President,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Gar- 
diner; Secretary,  Miss  Annie  Chapman;  Treasurer  and  Corresponding 
Secretary,  Mrs.  Abby  G.  Anthony. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society — President,  Mary  J.  Wood;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Gardiner. 


THE  LYME  CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  LYME,  CONN. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  at  the  school- 
house  in  what  is  called  the  Mile  Creek  District,  in  the  year  1842.  The 
Stewards  were  Stephen  L.  Peck,  David  Morley,  Ichabod  Kellogg, 
John  Gilbert  and  Edward  Havens. 

The  Trustees  were  the  same,  with  Charles  L.  Morley  added.  Ed- 
ward Havens  was  appointed 
Class  Leader.  Daniel  An- 
derson united  with  the  church 
a  little  later,  but  his  ability 
and  faithfulness  as  a  worker, 
and  his  self-sacrificing  devo- 
tion to  the  interests  of  the 
church,  entitle  him  to  a  place 
among  the  honored  fathers  of 
Methodism  in  Lyme.  Of 
these  men,  Charles  L.  Mor- 
ley, now  8 1  years  of  age,  is 
the  only  survivor.  Previous 
to  1842  there  had  been 
Methodist  preaching  in  Lyme 

for  many  years.  According  to  Abel  Stevens,  Jesse  Lee,  en  route 
from  New  Haven  to  New  London,  preached  in  Lyme  about  Sep- 
tember i,  1789,  but  in  wrhat  part  of  the  town  is  not  now  known.  Nearly 
thirty  years  passed  before  another  Methodist  preacher  invaded  the  soil 
of  Old  Lyme.  Two  young  ladies  by  the  name  of  Greenfield  had  at- 
tended a  Methodist  meeting  at  what  is  now  East  Lyme,  been  convert- 
ed, and  invited  the  preacher,  Rev.  Mr.  Hanks,  to  visit  Old  Lyme  and 
preach  in  their  father's  house.  The  appointment  was  made,  the  spa- 
cious kitchen  was  set  in  order,  and  a  large  number  of  people  assembled 
to  see  and  hear  one  of  the 
men  who  were  turning  the 
world  upside  down.  The 
preacher  took  for  his  text 
Acts  x:  29,  "I  ask,  therefore, 
for  what  intent  ye  have  sent 
for  me?"  and  repeated  it, 
turning  toward  the  old  farmer 
sitting  in  the  chimney  corner, 
who,  thinking  the  question 
addressed  to  him  personally, 
replied  writh  some  resent- 
ment. "It's  no  such  thing.  THE  LYME  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


57 


I  never  sent  for  you."  Elisha  Greenfield,  a  grandson,  and 
an  aged  and  honored  member  of  this  church,  still  lives  in  the  same 
house.  Tn  the  same  year  there  was  a  class  formed.  In  1820  Rev. 


REV.    D.   G.    ASHLEY. 


JOHN   SWANEY. 
Recording-  Steward. 


Lewis  Bates  proclaimed  a  present,  full  and  free  salvation;  in  1827  Rev. 
H.  Bronson,  H.  Davis  and  Mr.  Brown,  who  were  on  the  Old  Hebron 
Circuit,  found  their  way  into  Lyme.  Then  up  to  1831  the  meetings 


N.   L.   SHEFFIELD, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


L.    S.    WATROUS, 
Epworth    League   President. 


were  sustained  by  the  members  of  the  class,  and  an  occasional  visit 
from  local  preachers.  At  a  watch  meeting,  held  in  the  Mile  Creek 
schoolhouse,  in  1830,  the  power  of  God  came  down  upon  the  people 


58  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

and  many  were  converted.  This  was  one  of  the  occasions  so  frequent 
in  the  past,  when  the  strong  opposition  which  Methodism  encountered 
in  almost  every  New  England  town  was  signally  defeated  by  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the  people. 

At  another  time,  when  a  number  of  men  had  banded  together  to 
make  an  attack  upon  the  preacher,  in  a  private  house,  Stephen 
Peck,  at  a  given  signal,  rose  to  his  feet  to  lead  in  the  assault;  at  that 
moment  a  large  cat  that  had  been  lying  upon  a  bureau  sprang  upon  his 
shoulders ;  he  became  greatly  alarmed,  and  thinking  it  a  warning  from 
God,  immediately  surrendered.  This  man  became  a  very  useful  mem- 
ber of  the  Church,  and  before  he  died  removed  the  last  dollar  of  indebt- 
edness from  it.  In  1831  Lyme  was  included  in  the  Hebron  Circuit,  and 
Reuben  Ransom,  Moseley  Dwight  and  Charles  Heywood  were  the 


ALFRED  N.  ROBBINS.  CHARLES  L.    MORLEY. 

preachers.  In  1832  Rev.  Caleb  Rogers  preached  here.  In  1833  Rev- 
Mr.  Niles.  In  1834  there  was  preaching  once  in  two  weeks  by  one  of 
the  Circuit  preachers,  Rev.  Hiram  Walden,  Frederick  Tracy  and  Free- 
man Nutting  being  on  the  Circuit.  In  1835  Hiram  Walden  and  Walter 
Wilkey  were  the  preachers. 

From  this  date  meetings  were  continued  mostly  by  Ichabod  Kel- 
logg, a  resident  local  preacher,  until  1842,  when  Rev.  Isaac  Sherman 
was  the  preacher.  This  year  there  was  a  gracious  revival,  and  many 
were  added  to  the  church.  A  house  of  worship  seemed  a  necessity, 
and  accordingly  the  work  was  commenced,  and  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  A.  B.  Wheeler,  in  1843,  tne  present  edifice  was  completed  and 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Sanford  Benton  of  New  London. 

In  1873  a  desirable  lot  was  purchased,  and  a  convenient  and  com- 
fortable house  built  thereon,  for  the  use  of  the  preacher.  In  1893  it 
was  enlarged  and  greatly  improved. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


59 


1843- 
1844-45. 
1846-47. 
1848-49. 
1850-51. 
1852. 

i853- 

1854. 

1855-56. 

1857- 

1858. 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865. 

1866. 


A.  B.  Wheeler 
N.  Torbush 
R.  Albertson 
M.  Leffinwell 

F.  Blanchard 
Supplied 
Peter  Mather 
H.  Smith 

J.  T.  Benton 
J.  W.  Case 

G.  D.  Boynton 
Lozien  Pierce 
F.  Newell 
Supplied 
Jabez  Peck 
Lewis  C.  Dunham 


PASTORS. 

1867-69. 
1870-71, 
1872-74. 

I875-77- 

1878-80. 

1881. 

1882. 

1883-85. 

1886-89. 

1890. 

1891-92. 

1892. 

1893-94. 

1895-96. 

1897. 


William  Dixon 
H.  Arnold 
D.  G.  Ashley 
William  Dixon 

C.  B.  Sumner 
L.  D.  Bentley 
W.  C.  Newell 

D.  G.  Ashley 
William  Turkington 
William  Foster 

H.  E.  Parker 
William  Turkington 
T.  W.  Douglass 

C.  B.  Bromley 

D.  G.  Ashlev 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Stewards — C.  L.  Morley,  James  Mitchell,  Thomas  Hoskins,  John 
Swaney  (Recording  Steward  for  twenty-two  years),  Alfred  N.  Robbins, 
Latham  S.  WTatrous,  John  Rowland. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Nathaniel  Sheffield;  Assistant, 
L.  S.  Watrous;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Vienna  E.  Robbins;  Assist- 
ant Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Jennie  Sheffield;  Librarian,  Lillie  Shef- 
field; Assistant  Librarian,  Bertha  Ashley;  Organist,  Bertha  Ashley; 
Assistant  Organist,  Annie  Petrie. 

Epworth  League — President,  Latham  S.  Watrous;  First  Vice- 
President,  Annie  Petrie;  Second  Vice-President,  Lillie  L.  Sheffield; 
Third  Vice-President,  N.  L.  Sheffield;  Fourth  Vice-President  Harry 
Haynes;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Katie  E.  Watrous. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MANCHESTER,  CONN. 
In  August,  1790,  Rev.  George  Roberts,  Jesse  Lee's  assistant,  or- 
ganized the  first  Methodist  Society  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of 
Manchester,  at  the  home  of  Thomas  Spencer,  on  Spencer  street,  con- 
sisting of  Thomas  Spencer  and  wife,  Mrs.  Hurlbut,  Mrs.  Roberts,  Mrs. 

Pitkin  and  Richard  Keeney,  three 
of  whose  granddaughters  are  de- 
voted members  of  the  church  to- 
day, one,  Mrs.  Delina  Backus,  be- 
ing an  earnest  class  leader. 

In  1794  Bishop  Asbury  visited 
this  vicinity  and  records  finding  a 
neat  house  of  worship  near  Mr. 
Spencer's  home. 

In  1821,  while  Ebenezer  Blake 
and  Daniel  Dorchester  were  the 
preachers,  a  large  revival  occurred 
at  Manchester  Green,  meetings 
being  held  in  the  brick  school- 
house. 

This  necessitated  a  more  accessi- 
ble church,  which  was  built  at 
Manchester  Centre,  being  50  by  38 
feet,  with  a  tower,  galleries  on 
three  sides  and  rude  benches,  and 
was  used  for  about  thirty  years. 

The  society  being  almost  crushed  to  pay  for  it,  Timothy  Keeney, 
a  young  member,   courageously  raised   the  money,   mortgaging  his 
small  house  to  do  so.     He  said:    "They  can  take  all  I  have,  my  wife's 
furniture    and    all;    but    they 
can't  take  that  church." 

In  1826  the  first  Sunday 
School  was  held  at  North 
Manchester,  Mrs.  Nancy  Le- 
valley  teaching  about  a  dozen 
children  in  her  house.  Mr. 
Eli  Pitkin  succeeded  this  ef- 
fort some  years  later,  holding 
a  Sunday  School  in  the 
schoolhouse,  which  stood  fac- 
ing the  present  Post  Office. 
The  ministers  frequently  THE  MANCHESTER  PARSONAGE. 


THE  MANCHESTER  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


61 


preached  in  schoolhouses  at  South  Manchester,  North  Manchester  and 
at  Buckland's  Corners,  where,  in  1836,  many  were  converted,  among 
them  Miss  M.  M.  Loomis,  long  a  useful  church  worker  and  officer-  in 
the  W.  F.  M.  S. 

In  1837  Mr.  Oliver  P.  Wilkes  introduced  violins  and  flutes  into 
the  church  and  drilled  the  first  church  choir.  He  remained  long  the 
useful  choir  leader. 

In  1847,  while  Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Phelps  was  pastor,  fifty-seven 
persons  were  received  into  the  church. 

In  1849-50,  while  Rev.  Merritt  P.  Alderman  was  pastor,  a  revival 
started  at  a  Sacramental  service,  and  sixty-one  were  converted. 

In  1851  business  having  increased  at  North  and  South  Manches- 
ter, "it  was  thought  best  to  divide  the  church  at  the  Centre  and  go 


REV.    E.    P.    PHREANER. 


MRS.    E.   P.   PHREANER. 


South  and  North."  This  amicable  division  took  place  prior  to  the  ses- 
sion of  the  Conference  of  1851...  As  a  result  168  members  went  South 
and  the  remaining  77  came  to  North  Manchester.  However,  the  168 
continued  to  worship  at  the  Centre  until  1854,  when  they  built  their 
church  at  South  Manchester. 

A  class  meeting  had  been  led  by  Darius  Drake  at  North  Manches- 
ter for  some  time.  He  and  his  wife  were  very  pious  people. 

Rev.  George  Brewster  became  pastor  of  the  flock  in  North  Man- 
chester in  1851.  Soon  the  congregation  and  Sunday  School  outgrew 
the  schoolhouse  quarters,  and  he  urged  building  the  church  upon  the 
land  donated  by  Keeney  and  Wood,  Trustees  having  been  previously 
elected  and  the  foundation  laid.  The  building  committee  were  Tim- 
othy Keeney,  James  B.  Wood,  Hiram  Moulton,  William  McNall,  Ed- 
win B.  Hibbard,  Frank  W.  Cowles.  • 


62 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


It  was  completed  in  six  months,  because  the  people  had  a  mind 
to  work.  The  size  was  72  by  42  feet,  with  a  spire,  having  the  first  bell 
in  North  Manchester,  the  same  building  as  at  present.  Within  two 
years  the  membership  increased  to  157,  the  Sunday  School  to  175;  and 
four  successful  classes  were  held,  having  88  average  attendance. 

A  missionary  interest  and  loyalty  to  Methodist  usages,  discipline 
and  literature  characterized  the  church  from  its  earliest  history. 

In  1853,  when  Rev.  John  B.  Husted  was  pastor,  a  house  and  land 
were  bought  opposite  the  church  for  a  parsonage. 

1854-55,  Rev.  William  Lives'ey's  spiritual  and  forceful  preaching 


LOREN   DAVIS. 


E.    A.    L/YDALrL, 
S.  S.   Supt.  and  E.  L.   Pres. 


resulted  in  large  congregations,  and  thirty  new  members,  an  addition 
of  twenty  feet  to  the  church,  a  pipe  organ  and  a  clock  in  the  tower. 

During  Rev.  Pardon  T.  Kenney's  pastorate  1856-57,  increased  in- 
terest was  taken  in  camp-meetings.  About  1860  Timothy  Keeney, 
James  B.  Wood  and  Edwin  B.  Hibbard  were  charter  members  of  the 
Willimantic  Camp-Meeting  Association,  and  erected  the  first  cottages 
upon  the  ground. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Bemis  was  pastor  in  1863-64,  when  thirty  mem- 
bers withdrew  to  form  the  Vernon  M.  E.  Church. 

Rev.  James  Mather,  in  1865-66,  when  James  B.  Wood,  in  the 
noontide  of  his  life,  was  taken  away  from  his  family  and  the  church 
as  Sunday  School  Superintendent,  class  leader,  etc.,  greatly  beloved  by 
all,  his  noble  wife  taking  up  many  of  his  responsibilities.  She  has 
taught  the  primary  department  in  the  Sunday  School  for  over  thirty 
years. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


The  singing  and  persuasive  Rev.  George  D.  Fuller,  1869-71,  when 
thirty  new  members  were  received,  Mrs.  Maggie  Van  Cott  assisting 
the  pastor  in  extra  meetings. 

In  1872-73  Rev.  Zadoc  S.  Haynes  was  the  genial  pastor,  who 
also  contributed  two  useful  sons  to  the  Sunday  School  Superintend- 
ency  and  as  choristers  of  the  choir. 

Rev.  Henry  D.  Robinson,  from  1874  to  1876,  at  which  time 
the  quarter  centennial  service  of  the  building  of  the  church  was  held. 
It  was  an  occasion  for  rejoicing,  former  ministers  participating.  The 
pastor  read  a  history  of  the  church,  stating  that  in  twenty-five  years 


TIMOTHY    KEENEY. 


JAMES  B.   WOOD. 


$35,000  had  been  spent  in  church  improvements  and  benevolence,  and 
that  three  hundred  souls  had  professed  conversion. 

The  old-time  choir,  under  Mr.  O.  P.  Wilkes,  and  the  new,  under 
Carlos  B.  Haynes,  added  interest  to  the  occasion. 

Rev.  James  H.  Nutting  following,  1877-78,  witnessed  a  large  for- 
eign element  in  the  town  and  church,  Temperance  Reform  and  a 
revival,  in  which  thirty-six  joined  the  church.  The  spire  of  the  church 
was  swept  off  in  a  winter's  storm,  and  a  most  useful  official,  Edwin  B. 
Hibbard,  was  removed  by  death,  leaving  a  devoted  wife  to  take  up 
much  of  his  labor. 

Rev.  Shadrach  Leader,  the  silver-tongued  preacher,  serving  1879- 
80,  when  the  artistic  tower  and  other  church  improvements  were  added. 

In  1885  Rev.  William  H.  Tnrkington,  the  pastor,  was  assisted 
by  Rev.  I.  T.  Johnson,  when  twenty-two  new  members  were  added  to 
the  church. 

While  Rev.  Royal  J.  Kellogg  was  pastor,  1886-87,  tlie  Wesley 


64 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


League  was  formed;  the  commodious  Willimantic  Camp  House  was 
erected  through  their  instrumentality. 

Rev.  George  H.  Butler  following  in  1888-89,  when  a  commodious 
and  beautiful  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,800. 

Rev.  John  McVay  served  in  1890-92,  when  radical  improvements 
were  made  inside  the  church.  A  fine  new  pipe-organ  was  purchased, 
the  entire  cost  being  $4,000.  The  Wesley  League  became  a  strong 
and  helpful  chapter  of  the  Epworth  League,  and  a  refreshing  revival 
of  religion  occurred. 

Also  Rev.  John  Sherman,  a  superannuated  member  of  our  Con- 
ference, came  to  Manchester,  and  has  been  a  real  helper  to  both  pastor 
and  people. 

While  Rev.  James  Tregaskis  was  pastor,  1893-94,  the  Christian 
Crusaders  labored  with  the  church,  and  some  members  were  added, 
and  the  church  was  generally  revived. 

In  December,  1893,  Brother  Timothy  Keeney,  after  seventy-six 
years  of  most  devoted  Christian  service,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  91 
years. 

At  the  recent  reunion  and  roll  call  the  membership  was  135,  with 
35  probationers,  29  having  been  taken  into  the  church  during  the  last 
two  and  a  half  years.  A  slow  yet  healthful  growth  is  realized. 

In  1896  Rev.  Nathan  F.  Colver  went  to  live  among  the  redeemed 
in  Heaven,  leaving  Sister  Colver  still  to  toil  with  us. 

In  1897  Mr.  I.  S.  Ackley,  a  devoted  class  leader  and  official,  was 
laid  to  rest. 

This  church,  besides  training  up  many  loyal  and  devoted  men  and 
women,  some  who  have  gone  forth  to  other  places  and  to  other 
churches,  many  also  to  the  Heavenly  Land,  has  also  given  four  sons 
to  the  ministry,  viz.,  Rev.  Wilbur  Loomis,  to  the  Congregational 
Church;  Rev.  Francis  Asbury  Loomis,  in  1854;  Rev.  Edward  M.  An- 
thony, in  1863;  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Ackley,  in  1883,  all  to  the  New  Eng- 
land Southern  Conference;  also  Miss  Olivia  Olmstead,  to  be  the  wife  of 
Rev.  George  Mansfield  of  the  New  England  Conference,  and  Miss 
Lizzie  L.  Colver,  to  be  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  S.  Porter,  a  missionary  in 
Bohemia  under  the  American  Board. 

PASTORS. 

Down  to  1851,  same  as  South  Manchester. 

1853.          John  B-  Husted  1862.  John  F.  Sheffield 

1854-55.     William  Livesey  1863-64.  Nathaniel  Bemis 

l856-57-     Pardon  T.  Kenney          1865-66.  James  Mather 

1858-59.     John  Lovejoy  1867-68.  J.  Ellis  Hawkins 

1 860-6 1.     John   D.   King  1869-71.  George  D.  Fuller 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  65 

1872-73.  Zadoc  S.  Haines  1885.  Wm.   H.   Turkington 

1874-76.  Henry  D.  Robinson  1886-87.  Royal  J.  Kellogg 

1877-78.  James  H.  Nutting  1888-89.  George  H.  Butler 

1879-80.  Shadrach  Leader  1890-92.  John  McVay 

1 88 1.  John  Oldham  1893-94.  James   Tregaskis 

1882-84.  Henry  H.  Martin  1895.  Edward  P.  Phreaner 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  list  of  original  members  of  the  church  at  North  Manchester, 
as  nearly  as,  can  be  ascertained,  is  as  follows :  Nancy  Annis,  Delina 
Backus,  Albert  F.  Cowles,  Joseph  Case,  Nancy  Case,  Eliza  Cook, 
Harriet  Cowles,  William  Dart,  Darius  Drake,  David  Dye,  Sarah  A. 
Daggett,  George  Elliott,  Marilla  Buckland,  Delina  Brown,  Philinda 
Chafee,  Caroline  Case,  Lemira  Cook,  Caroline  Crane,  Wolcott  Dart, 
Jerusha  Dart,  Harriet  Drake,  Laurana  Dye,  Sallie  Evans,  Hannah 
Elliott,  Chloe  Foster,  Mary  Forbes,  Mary  A.  Hill,  Edwin  B.  Hibbard, 
Walter  Hibbard,  Lucinda  H.  Hibbard,  Timothy  Keeney,  Electa 
Keeney,  Mary  Keeney,  Isabella  C.  Keeney,  Lavinia  Keeney,  Hannah 
Loomis,  Wilbur  F.  Loomis,  Hulda  Loveland,  Nancy  Levalley,  Jeru- 
sha Perkins,  Maria  Roberts,  Luman  A.  Squires,  Lorenzo  T.  Salter, 
Ann  E.  Salter,  Mary  B.  Strong,  Betsey  Forbes,  Daniel  Hill,  Wilbur 
F.  Hill,  Elizabeth  Hibbard,  Eunice  Jacobs,  Soprona  B.  Keeney, 
Belinda  Keeney,  Emily  Keeney,  Sophia  Keeney,  Theodosia  Keeney, 
Marietta  M.  Loomis,  Ziba  Loveland,  Harriet  Leach,  Phebe  A.  Place, 
John  Risley,  Esther  Russell,  Eliza  Squires,  Susan  Salter,  Ethan  E. 
Strong,  William  C.  Strong,  Lucy  M.  Strong,  Mary  Sanders,  Mary  A. 
Wood,  Lucy  Sanders,  James  B.  Wood,  Carile  Weaver. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Henry  Lydall,  William  Foulds,  James  Long,  Carlos 
Foster,  Thomas  I.  Shaw,  Loren  Davis,  Edgar  T.  Hale,  Walter  E. 
Lydall,  William  E.  Hibbard. 

Stewards — Edgar  T.  Hale,  Henry  Lydall,  Louis  Keeney,  Joseph 
Templeton,  Josephine  Gleason,  Ellen  E.  Colver,  Elizabeth  E.  Hibbard, 
Loren  Davis,  Walter  E.  Lydall,  Manning  Walker,  William  B.  Covil, 
Marietta  M.  Loomis,  Elizabeth  T.  Keeney. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Edwin  A.  Lydall;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, William  B.  Covil;  Secretary,  Whitman  W.  Bowers; 
Treasurer,  Thomas  I.  Shaw;  Librarian,  Loren  Davis;  Assistant  Libra- 
rian, Edith  M.  Foulds. 

Epworth  League— President,  Edwin  A.  Lydall;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Thomas  I.  Shaw;  Second  Vice-President,  Delina  Backus;  Third 
Vice-President,  Grace  E.  Rowley;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Edith  Hall- 
Secretary,  Mary  L.  Covil;  Treasurer,  Fannie  E.  Foulds 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MAPLEVILLE,  R.  I. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Mapleville,  R.  I.,  was  organ- 
ized June  8,  1872,  by  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh  was 
appointed  its  pastor. 

Some  years  previous  to  this  time  there  had  been  preaching  by  one 
and  another.  At  times  there  was  much  interest  and  much  good  done, 
but  no  regular  organization  was  effected  until  June  8th,  1872,  as 
stated  above. 

Three  members  were  received  and  one  on  probation.  Being 
destitute  of  a  church  build- 
ing, James  Legg,  Esq., 
kindly  offered  to  furnish  a 
pleasant  hall,  known  as 
"Legg's  Hall."  This  was 
warmed  and  lighted  free  of 
expense  at  first. 

But  it  was  earnestly  de- 
sired to  build  a  chapel  which 
should  be  dedicated  forever 
and  entirely  to  the  service  of 
God,  and  the  following 
persons  were  elected  a  committee  to  procure  the  building  of  such  a 
chapel,  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh:  James  Legg,  Sen.,  John  S. 


THE  MAPLEVILLE  PARSONAGE. 


REV.  E.  F.  SMITH. 


MRS.  E.  F.  SMITH. 


Ross,  Joshua  Perkins  and  John  H.  Legg.     After  a  number  of  meet- 
ings of  this  committee  the  idea  of  building  a  chapel  seems  to  have 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


been  given  up.  The  church  was  not  built.  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh  left 
the  charge  at  the  end  of  three  years,  universally  beloved  and  regretted, 
but  his  work  of  love  and  the  influence  of  his  holy  life  remain  and  con- 
tinue to  bear  fruit. 

In  April,  1875,  Rev.  G.  W.  Hunt  was  appointed  to  this  charge. 


WILLIAM  LEGG. 
President  Board  of  Trustees. 


MRS.  JAMES  LEGG,  Sr. 


was 


During  this  pastorate  a  goodly  number  of  persons  were  converted  and 
added  to  the  church,  and  the  charge  built  up  and  strengthened. 

During  this  year  the  pastor  took  unto  himself  a  wife. 

Rev.  Francis  D.  Sargent  was  appointed  to  Mapleville  in  April, 
1876  and  1877.  At  the  Conference  of  1878  Rev.  Samuel  Fox 
appointed  to  this  charge,  and  reap- 
pointed  in  1879  and  1880.  During  the 
three  years  of  this  pastorate  there  was 
progress,  improvement  and  develop- 
ment. In  April,  1881,  Rev.  S.  Leader 
was  appointed  here  by  Bishop  Peck,  and 
he  continued  to  be  its  pastor  for  two 
years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Virgil  W.  Mattoon,  who  was  pastor 
of  this  society  from  April,  1883,  to  April, 
1885.  During  the  months  of  February 
and  March,  1884,  a  good  revival  interest 
was  enjoyed,  and  many  were  at  the  altar 
for  prayers,  and  gave  good  evidence  of 
conversion.  Rev.  F.  C.  Newell  was  the 
next  pastor.  He  was  appointed  in  April, 
1885,  and  remained  with  the  society  for  Migg  EppiE 

three  years.  Epworth    League    President. 


68 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  F.  J.  Follansbee,  who  was  appointed 
April,  1888,  and  the  year  following;  Rev.  J.  Biram  was  his  successor 
in  April,  1891  and  1892,  and  continued  its  pastor  for  two  years,  when 


GEORGE  H.   PEARCE. 
Recording  Steward. 


MRS.  MART  E.   PEARCE. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Martin  T.  Braley,  April,  1893-94.  During 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Braley  a  very  pleasant  and  convenient  par- 
sonage was  built  at  Mapleville,  the  land  being  donated  by  Mrs.  James 
Legg.,  Sr.,  which  greatly  adds  to  the  comfort  of  the  pastor  and  his 
family  residing  there.  The  society  has  done  nobly  in  striving  to  pay 
off  the  indebtedness,  so  that  there  is  now  only  about  four  hundred 
dollars  of  debt  upon  it.  With  a  season  of  business  prosperity,  this 
will  soon  be  raised  and  a  very  pleasant  home  for  the  pastor  will  be 
secured.  In  April,  1895,  Rev.  Elijah  F.  Smith  became  pastor  of  the 
church,  and  during  his  pastorate  over  three  hundred  dollars  have 
been  paid  on  the  indebtedness. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Mrs.  Betsey  Legg,  Charles  D.  W.  Cooper,  James  Legg, 
George  H.  Pearce,  William  Legg,  Walter  Stott,  Mary  E.  Legg. 

Stewards — William  Legg,  James  Legg,  George  H.  Pearce,  Mary 
E.  Pearce,  Lydia  Legg,  Alice  B.  Legg. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  GLENDALE,  R.  I. 

In  an  old  record  book  this  entry  is  made:  "M.  E.  Church,  Glen- 
dale,  R.  I.,  organized  into  a  class  August  27,  1858;  connected  to 
Millville  Station,  by  W.  V.  Morrison,  preacher  in  charge  Millville; 
T.  B.  Taylor,  class  leader;  C.  H.  Titus,  Presiding  Elder,  Providence 
district.  Made  a  separate  station,  April,  1860;  T.  B.  Taylor  appointed 
to  supply  the  charge." 

Received  those  standing  on  trial  May  8,  1859,  C.  A.  Merrill, 
Millville  Station,  presiding  officer.  Names  of  those  received  into  full 

connection:  Thomas  B.  Taylor, 
Nancy  A.  Taylor,  Hannah  Dens, 
William  Dens,  Nathaniel  Water- 
house,  Jane  Waterhouse,  Thos. 
Boss,  Duty  Thompson,  Harriet 
Bailey,  Maranda  E.  Taylor, 
Jeanette  Esten,  John  L.  Boss, 
Plummer  Vallet,  Stephen  Den- 
nier,  Martha  Dennier,  Betsey 
Hart,  William  Carron.  Only  one 
of  these  remain,  William  Car- 
ron. Many  sacred  memories 
cluster  round  these  names.  The 
first  services  of  the  church  were 
held  in  a  cellar  kitchen.  Souls 
were  saved  there  in  those  early 
years.  The  first  church  was 
built  during  the  pastorate  of 

Rev.  T.  B.  Taylor,  the  land  being  given  by  Mr.  Denison  Juman.  Not 
enough  money  being  raised  to  pay  for  the  church,  it  became  involved, 
nor  did  the  society  really  own  the  property  till  July,  1887,  when  the 
heirs  of  Mrs.  Phoebe  Copeland  gave  a  warranty  deed  of  the  church 
and  lot  to  the  society. 

The  second  pastor  was  the  Rev.  E.  N.  Maynard.  Somehow  he 
managed  to  evade  the  three  years'  rule  which  was  then  the  law  of  the 
church,  for  he  preached  to  the  society  for  thirteen  years.  He  is  still 
held  in  high  esteem  by  those  whom  he  faithfully  served  so  long. 

In  1879  the  society  secured  a  Conference  minister,  Rev.  George 
W.  Hunt,  who  remained  one  year,  laboring  faithfully.  Francis  D. 
Sargent  next  served  this  church  two  years,  who  was  followed  by  Rev. 
Samuel  L.  Fox.  In  1880-81  the  church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Fitz  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Slatersville. 

Rev.   Shadrach   Leader  came  next,   and   was   followed  by   Rev. 


THE   GLENDALE   CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Virgil  W.  Mattoon,  both  of  whom  remained  two  years.  In  1885 
Rev.  F.  C.  Newell  came,  and  during  his  pastorate,  in  1887,  the  new 
church  building  project  was  begun,  and  the  society  duly  incorporated 
by  the  Legislature. 

Rev.  F.  J.  Follansbee  was  the  next  pastor,  1889-90.  Several 
were  added  to  the  church,  and  the  society  undertook  to  repair  the 
church,  and  when  the  improvements  were  completed,  the  people  had 
a  beautiful  new  audience  room,  28  feet  by  38,  connected  by  folding 
partitions  with  the  old  building,  which  was  used  as  a  vestry.  A 
tower,  60  feet  high,  was  built,  and  a  bell  put  in.  Altogether  it  was 
a  very  comfortable  and  convenient  church  for  the  needs  of  the  village. 
The  changes  cost  over  $3,000.  It  was  dedicated  in  May,  1890,  free 


WILLIAM  ORRELL, 
President  Board  Trustees. 


MRS.    WILLIAM   ORRELL, 


of  debt,  and  after  all  bills  were  paid  there  remained  a  surplus  of  fifty 
dollars  in  the  treasury.  It  was  a  splendid  accomplishment  for  so 
small  a  village. 

Not  long  did  the  society  enjoy  their  beautiful  church,  for  on  the 
morning  of  October  24,  1890,  it  was  burned  to  the  ground;  a  total 
loss.  It  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the  society,  and  many  tears  were  shed,  but 
the  people  were  not  disheartened;  and  as  the  church  was  insured  for 
$3,000,  steps  were  at  once  taken  to  rebuild.  William  Orrell,  Henry 
L.  Copeland  and  James  Biram  were  elected  building,  committee.  After 
some  time  spent  in  looking  at  plans,  they  adopted  the  plans  of  the 
present  edifice. 

The  old  records  were  placed  in  a  box  in  the  floor  beneath  the 
communion  table  when  the  church  was  remodeled,  during  the  pastor- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  7! 

ate  of  Rev.  F.  J.  Follansbee.  They  were  placed  there  by  order  of  the 
trustees.  And  when  the  church  was  burned  in  the  year  1891,  October 
24,  the  old  records  were  consumed  in  the  fire. 

This  sketch  would  scarcely  be  complete  without  special  mention 
of  Hon.  William  Orrell  and  his  wife,  Mary  B.  Orrell.  Mr.  Orrell  is 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate.  He  has  been  very  active  in  all  the  varied  interests  of  the 
church.  In  1893  he  presented  the  new  church  with  a  beautiful  altar 
rail  and  a  bell.  He  is  proprietor  of  the  Glendale  Woolen  Mills. 
Mrs.  Orrell  is  the  Recording  Steward,  and  president  of  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society.  She  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  1893  in  soliciting 
funds  for  the  new  church,  even  calling  upon  the  governor  and  many 
of  the  senators  and  representatives. 

The  late  Hon.  Mowry  A.  Lapham  donated  the  magnificent  oak 
pulpit  set.  Francis  H.  Carpenter,  Ellen  M.  Juman  and  Addie  M. 
Bartlett  are  gratefully  remembered  for  three  beautiful  stained  glass 
windows  of  the  church. 

PASTORS. 

1860-61.  Thomas  B.  Taylor  1883-84.  Virgil  W.  Mattoon 

1862-74.  Elmer  N.  Maynard  1885-87.  Frederick  C.  Newell 

1875.  George  W.  Hunt  1888-90.  F.  J.  Follansbee 

1876-77.  Francis  D.  Sargent  1890-92.  James  Biram 

1878-79.  Samuel  C.  Fox  1893-94.  Martin  T.  Braley 

1880.   '  Mr.  Fittz  (Cong.)  1895.  Elijah  F.  Smith 

1881-82.  Shadrach  Leader 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — William  Orrell,  William  B.  Esten,  Fred  Esten,  Alfred 
Williamson,  Lottie  Esten,  Ruth  W.  Inman. 

Stewards— William  B.  Esten,  Mary  E.  Orrell  (R.  S),  Mary  E. 
Brooks,  Pauline  F.  Brooks,  Ruth  W.  Inman,  Lottie  Esten,  Phoebe 
Clarkson,  Alfred  Williamson  and  Lillian  Williamson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Rev.  E.  F.  Smith;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Brooks;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Al- 
fred Williamson;  Librarian,  Fannie  Brooks. 

Teachers — Mrs.  'Mary  Brooks,  Miss  Read,  Miss  L.  Williamson, 
William  B.  Esten,  Henry  Cook. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MASHAPAUG,  CONN. 

This  is  a  small  village  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  town  of 
Union,  Conn.     There  was,  prior  to  1850,  about  the  first  of  the  present 
century,  a  Methodist  Church,  situated  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
town.     This  was  not  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church.     The  organiza- 
tion of  the  present  society  dates 
back    to    1867,   as   the   result   of 
meetings  held  in  the  Circuit  Rid- 
ers, and  two  local  preachers,  who 
lived  in  adjoining  towns. 

The  services  were  held  in  the 
district  schoolhouse  until  1874,  at 
which  time  the  present  structure 
was  built. 

The  society  has  had  a  varied 
experience,  at  times  well-nigh 
discouraged,  at  other  times 
greatly  encouraged. 

For  two  years  this  little  church 
was  without  a  resident  pastor,  but 
was  supplied  part  of  the  time  by  a 
Mr.  Nichols  of  Stafford  Springs, 
THE  MASHAPAUG  CHURCH.  and  also  by  Mr.  O.  Bissel,  a  Con- 

gregational minister  of  Holland, 

Mass.     The  Rev.  Seth  B.  Chase  deserves  the  honor  of  building  the 
church  structure,  and  several  of  the  pastors  deserve  mention  of  valiant 
work  done.     Particularly  is  this  true  of  Revs.  Betts.  Cross.  Denman, 
Taylor  and  Richardson.   Reference  to 
the  work  of  the  laymen  in  connection 
with  this  enterprise  would  constitute 
due  notice  of  such  men   as  Proctor 
Smith,  George  A.  Webster,  Henry  M. 
Vinton,  and  many  others  who   have 
gone  to  reap  their  rewards. 

The  future  of  the  church  seems  un- 
certain, as  it  is  with  many  of  our 
churches  in  the  little  towns  and  vil- 
lages that  are  so  isolated  from  manu- 
facturing and  railroad  centres.  But  it 
has  done  a  good  work  in  the  past. 
Among  its  members  have  been 
counted  many  influential  men  of  the 

town,     and      while     for      want      of  E.  E-  CORBIN. 

opportunity     it     may     not     be     able  s.  s.  supt.  and  E.  L.  Pres. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


73 


to  do  for  future  generations  what  it  has  done  for  the  past,  it  doubtless 
will  stand  as  a  beacon  light  for  some  souls  in  the  future. 


REV.  F.  B.  ADAMS. 


MRS.   F.   B.    ADAMS. 


1867-70. 

I870-7I. 

1872. 

1873-74. 

1875-77. 

1878-79. 

1880. 


Daniel  Pratt 
John  Carpenter 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
George  W.  Hunt 
Seth  B.  Chase 
William  A.  Taylor 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
T.  W.  Douglass 


PASTORS. 

1881-83. 

1884. 

1885-86. 

1887. 

1890-91. 

1894. 

1895-96. 

1897. 


Jacob  P.etts 
H.  S.  Smith 
John  Pcarce 
T.  C.  Denman 
C.  A.  Purely 
J.   H.  Richardson 
O.  G.  Terry 
F.  B.  Adams 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — William  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  Emily  Vinton,  Mrs.  Lyman 
Moore,  Robert  Webster,  Byron  Davis,  Esq. 

Stewards — Mrs.  Byron  Davis,  Mrs.  Emily  Vinton,  Mrs.  Lyman 
Moore,  Walcott  Barber  (D.  S.),  Mrs.  Emily  Barber  (R.  S.),  William 
Pickles,  E.  E.  Corbin,  Robert  Webster. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  G.  W.  Barber;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, E.  E.  Corbin. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Emma  Moore,  Mrs.  Helen  Winch,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Davis,  Mrs.  Emily  Barber,  Mrs.  Julia  Adams,  Mr.  R.  E.  Webster. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WILLINGTON,  CONN. 

As  early  as  1832  the  Rev.  Ralph  W.  Allen  of  East  Willington, 
Conn.,  and  a  member  of  the  New  England  Conference,  with  N.  E. 
Rogers  and  Charles  Hayward  as  colleagues,  traveled  over  what  was 
then  known  as  the  Tolland  Circuit,  which  included  "Square  Pond" 
and  Willington. 

In  1833  the  Rev.  William  Walcott  of  Goshen,  Mass.,  acted  as 
supply  under  the  Presiding  Eldership  of  the  Rev.  Orange  Scott.  Ec- 
centric in  manner,  but  powerful  in  God,  he  was  blessed  with  a  rich 
revival,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Freeman  Nutting. 

In  1834  the  Rev.  Lozien  Pierce  of  Peru,  Mass.,  came  to  the 
Circuit,  which  included  at  that  time,  Tolland,  Square  Pond,  Stafford 


THE  WILLINGTON  CHURCH. 

and  Willington,  under  the  charge  of  Stephen  Gushing,  who  settled 
at  Tolland.  Stafford  was  supplied  by  Ezra  Withey;  Willington  and 
Square  Pond  by  Mr.  Pierce.  The  preaching  at  that  time  was  in  what 
is  known  as  the  Potter  District  Schoolhouse,  also  in  the  schoolhouse 
of  the  Jason  Bugbee  District,  as  well  as  many  services  held  in 
the  schoolhouse  on  Village  Hill.  He  traveled  over  1,000  miles, 
preached  234  sermons,  receiving  in  return  his  board  and  $117,  and  had 
the  blessed  satisfaction  of  seeing  over  one  thousand  souls  converted, 
thirty  or  forty  of  which  were  at  Willington. 

During  this  year  Mr.  Benjamin  Sillibridge  gave  the  land  on  which 
the  church  now  stands.  Through  his  efforts  a  subscription  paper 
was  started,  and  with  the  aid  of  many  kind  helpers  he  was  enabled 
to  have  the  deed  and  plans  in  readiness  by  the  close  of  the  year.  The 
church  was  not  built,  however,  until  later. 

In  J837,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Caldwell,  the  present 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


75 


church  building  was  erected.  From  1837  to  1842  Revs.  Ira  Bidwell, 
Elisha  Frink  and  Abram  Holway  supplied  the  pulpit.  In  1841  Rev. 
L.  W.  Blood,  then  stationed  at  Stafford  Springs,  and  Rev.  William 
Dixon  occasionally  preached. 

In  1842  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  James  F. 
Brooks,  with  others,  kept  the  church  alive  with  prayer  and  faith,  until 
a  revival  sprang  up  which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  many.  In 
1843  the  charge  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Otis  Perrin,  and  in  1844  by 
Rev.  Moses  Stoddard.  During  this  period  the  church  suffered  much 
in  consequence  of  the  great  Millerite  movement. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Charles  Morse  in  1845-46,  the 
church  was  greatly  quickened,  and  many  were  converted.  In  1867, 


M.  P.  FENTON, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


LJLLA  I.  FENTON, 
Epworth    League   President. 


during  the  pastorate  of  Otis  Perrin,  a  revival  occurred  in  which  there 
were  about  twenty-five  conversions.  In  1870,  while  James  O.  Dodge 
was  pastor,  there  were  many  conversions.  Henry  Meacham  (1871- 
73)>  was  the  only  pastor  to  stay  the  full  time  limit.  At  the  close  of 
his  pastorate  there  were  forty-one  full  members  and  thirty-five  proba- 
tioners, and  sixty-six  members  in  the  Sunday  School. 

In  1877  RCV-  H.  H.  Arnold,  then  stationed  at  Wesley  Chapel, 
was  pastor,  preaching  also  for  the  Advent  people.  In  1878  Rev.  A.  J. 
Church,  D.  D.,  then  at  Stafford  Springs,  preached  once  a  month  in 
this  church,  Rev.  Erastus  Benton  preaching  the  other  Sabbaths.  In 
1880  and  1881  Rev.  James  Tregaskis  was  pastor.  Many  accessions 
to  the  church  blessed  his  labors. 

In  1889  Rev.  George  H.  Rogers,  a  student  at  Wesleyan  Univer- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


sity,  supplied  the  pulpit  during  the  summer,  doing  splendid  work.  In 
October  Rev.  George  W.  Elmer  began  and  supplied  the  rest  of  the 
year. 

In  1890  Rev.  F.  C.  Newell  enjoyed  a  blessed  year's  work.  From 
1891  to  1893  Rev.  H.  D.  Adams  was  pastor.  He,  too,  enjoyed  a  blessed 
revival.  He  was  assisted  by  Lonzo  Bruce,  of  the  Salvation  Army; 
1894-95  Herbert  Snow,  as  pastor,  labored  faithfully  and  earnestly  here. 
During  the  present  pastorate  the  Church  has  steadily  gained  in  in- 
fluence and  power,  with  some  encouraging  results. 


1832. 


1833- 
1834. 
1837-42. 


1843- 

1844. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851-52. 

1853- 
1854. 

1855- 
1856. 
1857-60. 


1 860-6 1. 

1862. 

1863. 


PASTORS. 

Ralph  W.  Allen,  1864. 

N.  E.  Rogers  1865. 

Charles  Hay  ward  1866. 

William  Wolcott  1867-68. 

Lozien  Pierce  1869. 

John  Caldwell  1870. 

Ira  Bidwell  1871-73. 

Elisha  Frink  1874. 

Abram  Holway  1875. 

Otis  Perrin  .  1876. 

Moses  Stoddard  1877. 

Charles  Morse  i8/8-7Q. 

Otis  Perrin  1 880-81. 

Horace  Moulton  1882-83. 

William  Dixon  1883. 

Manuel  Kenney  1884-85. 
James  F.  Brooks 

Manuel  Kenney  1886-89. 

Jabez  Pack  1889. 
James  F.  Brooks 

James  Parker  1890. 

George  D.  Boynton  1891-93. 

James  F.  Brooks  1894-95. 

A.  G.  Turner  1896. 

George  D.  Boynton  1897. 


James  F.  Brooks 
Horace  Moulton 
Josiah  T.  Benton 
Otis  Perrin 
James  Parker 
James  O.  Dodge 
Henry  Meacham 
Otis  Perrin 
Leonard  Goodell 
Nelson  Goodrich 
H.  H.  Arnold 
Erastus  Benton 
James  Tregaskis 

E.  M.  Anthony 

J.  J.  Cooper  (latter  part). 
Samuel  McKeown 
Leonard  Goodell 
W.  C.  Newell 
George  H.  Rogers 
George  W.  Elmer 

F.  C.  Newell 
H.  D.  Adams 
Herbert  Snow 
O.  G.  Terry 
F.  B.  Adams 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Mark  Fenton,  Francis  Ballou,  Herbert  Royce,  Edward 
Brooks. 

Stewards — Mrs.  Louise  Allen,  Mrs.  Susan  Wood,  Mrs.  James  Cal- 
lender,  Mrs.  Roxana  Wilson,  Mrs.  Marcia  Fenton,  Miss  Lilla  I.  Fen- 
ton,  Mark  Fenton,  Frank  Fenton,  Benjamin  Wilson,  Valmore  Pulsifer, 
Ernest  Pulsifer. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  M.  P.  Fenton,  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Jennie  E.  Brooks;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Callander; 
Librarian,  Delia  J.  Eno. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


77 


Teachers — E.  W.  Brooks,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Brooks,  Mr.  Samuel  Bart- 
lett,  Mrs.  M.  P.  Fenton,  Mr.  Weeks,  Lilla  I.  Fenton. 

Epworth  League — President,  Lilla  I.  Fenton;  First  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Ida  A.  Wilson,  Second  Vice  President,  Ernest  Pulsifer;  Third 
Vice  President,  Frank  N.  Fenton ;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Wallace  H. 
Wilson. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MILLVILLE,  MASS. 
By  Miss  J.  Ardelle  Mann. 

Until  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  this  place 
a  part  of  its  original  members  were  associated  with  the  Methodist  Re- 
formed Church,  worshiping  in  their  meeting-house,  built  in  1833. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  find  a 
suitable  minister,  either  in  the  Re- 
formed or  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church,  application  was  made 
through  Rev.  Charles  H.  Titus,  then 
stationed  at  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  to 
Rev.  Thomas  Ely,  Presiding  Elder, 
for  a  preacher.  At  the  Annual  Con- 
ference, held  at  Provinctown,  Mass., 
April,  1849,  RCV-  Daniel  Fillmore  was 
appointed  to  Millville.  After  much 
deliberation  and  consultation  a  num- 
ber of  the  members  of  the  Reformed 
Methodist  Church,  March  3,  1850, 
presented  their  letters  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Fillmore  to  become  members  of  the 


JOHN  C.  SCOTT  (Deceased). 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  These,  with  fourteen  members  of  the 
Slatersville  (R.  I.)  class,  belonging  to  the  society  at  Woonsocket,  R.  I. 
were  organized  as  the  Millville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

After  the  Annual  Conference,  Rev.  Daniel  Fillmore  returned  to 
labor  with  a  church  of  thirty-four  members. 

The  first  Quarterly  Conference  was  held  on  the  2pth  of  October, 
Rev.  Thomas  Ely  presiding. 

In  the  second  year  of  her  history  some  of  the  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  objected  to  the  application  of  pew  rents  toward  the  sup- 
port of  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  led  to 
the  withdrawal  of  the  members  of  the  latter  society,  who  thereupon  se- 
cured the  unoccupied  meeting-house  of  the  "Orthodox"  Church  as  a 
place  of  worship.  The  last  Sabbath  of  the  Conference  year  was  the 


78 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


first  in  their  new  home. 

The  church  steadily  increased  until  in  1855  it  could  report  a  mem- 
bership of  104,  with  twelve  probationers. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1861,  Southwick  Harkness,  Sullivan 
Harkness,  John  C.  Scott,  George  Hanny  and  George  Lewis  were  ap- 
pointed trustees,  and  on  the  6th  of  March  following  this  Board  was  or- 
ganized as  a  corporation,  under  the  General  Statutes  of  the  Common- 
wealth. During  the  same  year,  a  parsonage  was  purchased  for  the 
sum  of  $850,  a  balance  of  $178  on  the  above  remaining  unpaid. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  July  15,  1863,  Rev.  Lewis  B. 
Bates  was  chosen  a  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  purchase 
of  the  meeting-house  occupied  by  the  church.  August  6,  $744  was  re- 
ported subscribed,  and  the  prudential  committee  was  authorized  to  pur- 
chase the  meeting-house. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  held  August  3ist,  the  committee  re- 
ported $933  subscribed,  and  he,  with  John  C.  Scott,  was  authorized  to 
make  the  necessary  transfer  of  papers  for  the  purchase  of  the  building. 

A  balance  on  the  cost  of  the  church  property  remaining  unpaid, 
and  repairs  and  alterations  being  made  from  time  to  time,  the  church 
finally  found  itself  burdened  with  a  $1,060  debt.  It  was  deemed  best  to 
sell  the  parsonage,  and  this  was  done  in  1872,  for  $1,000.  In  1894,  a 
sJiort  time  before  his  death,  George  Hanny  gave  the  church  a  piece  of 
land  on  which  to  build  a  new  parsonage.  The  church  has  enjoyed 
many  years  of  prosperity,  but  business  depression  in  late  years  has  seri- 
ously crippled  the  church.  For  several  years  a  flourishing  class  was 
sustained  at  Slatersville,  R.  I. 

Among  the  many  faithful  laymen  of  the  church  the  name  of  John 
C.  Scott  is  tenderly  cherished,  who,  for  twenty-five  years,  was  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School,  and  a  leading  spirit  in  all  the  interests 
of  the  church. 

PASTORS. 


1849-50.  Daniel  Fillmore  1872-74. 

1851.  Nelson  Goodrich  1875. 

1852.  John  E.  Gifford  1876. 
l853-54.  Charles  Nason  1877-78. 
l855-  John  A.  M.  Chapman.  1879. 
1856.  Asa  U.  Swinerton  1 880-81. 
1 857-58.  William  V.  Morrison  1882-84. 
1859-60.  Charles  A.  Merrill  1885. 
1861-62.  George  M.  Hamlin  1886-88. 
1863-65.  Lewis  B.  Bates  1889. 
1866.   ^  William  Kellen  1890. 
1867-68.  Henry  W.  Conant  1891. 

1869.  Frederick  C.  Newell  1892-93. 

1870.  Heflin  S.  Smith  1894-95. 

1871.  Samuel  E.  Evans  1896. 


Walter  J.  Yates 
Edwin  G.  Babcock 
W'illiam  H.  Turkington 
R.  D.  Dyson 
John  H.  Sherman 
J.  H.  Keppel 
Winfield  C.  Kelt 
John  Willett 
Edward  P.  Phreaner 
James  Mather 
Arthur  N.  Searles 
P.  H.  Robinson 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
Merrick  Ransom 
Henry  H.  Martin 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


79 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Moses  Esten,  Frank  Beasley,  Thomas  J.  Collins,  Will- 
iam Robertson,  Josiah  B.  Davis. 

Stewards — Moses  Esten,  Frank  Beasley,  Thomas  J.  Collins,  Will- 
iam Robertson,  James  Grindrod,  Mrs.  Etta  Southwick,  Mrs.  Isabel 
Beasley,  Mrs.  Laura  Gould,  Miss  J.  Ardelle  Mann,  Etta  M.  Hood,  Vic- 
toria Crossmon,  Gertrude  L.  Southwick,  Jennie  L.  Davis. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Rev.  H.  H.  Martin ;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Thomas  J.  Collins;  Second  Assistant  Superintendent, 
Jennie  L.  Davis;  Secretary,  Ernest  Hood;  Treasurer,  J.  Ardelle  Mann; 
Organist,  Gertrude  L.  Southwick;  Librarian,  William  Collins. 

Teachers — Mrs.  H.  H.  Martin,  Thomas  J.  Collins,  J.  Ardelle 
Mann,  Gertrude  L.  Southwick,  Etta  M.  Hood. 

Epworth  League — Ernest  Hood,  President;  Gertrude  L.  South- 
wick, First  Vice-President;  J.  Ardelle  Mann,  Second  Vice-President; 
William  Robertson,  Third  Vice-President;  Etta  M.  Hood,  Fourth 
Vice-President;  Victoria  H.  Crossmon,  Secretary;  Vinton  H.  Hood, 
Treasurer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MOODUS,  CONN. 

Before  1800  Methodist  preachers  had  passed  through  East  Had- 
dam  from  Hartford  and  Middletown,  on  their  way  to  New  London. 
As  early  as  1792  preaching  places  had  been  established  in  each  of  the 


THE  MOODUS  CHURCH. 


THE  MOODUS  PARSONAGE. 


above  places,  from  which  the  early  Methodist  preachers  had  pushed 
into  the  surrounding  country  towns,  including  Hebron,  Chatham  and 
Salem. 

In  1813,  during  the  close  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  the  New 
England  Annual  Conference,  whose  territory  then  included  this  section, 


8o 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


was  held  at  Salem.  In  1825,  and  again  in  1830,  the  eccentric  Lorenzo 
Dow  preached  at  East  Haddam  Landing,  on  the  Connecticut  River, 
four  miles  from  Moodus. 

Classes  were  soon  formed  at  Millington  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town,  and  at  Leesville  in  the  western  part. 

In  the  Spring  of  1834  a  lot  was  bought,  where  the  church  now 
stands,  of  Abner  Brainerd. 

It  was  purchased  by  Danforth  Burgess,  a  Methodist,  who  gave  his 
note  for  $50  to  pay  for  the  land.  During  the  following  autumn  a  frame 
was  erected  for  the  church,  which  remained  all  Winter.  The  following 
year  it  was  finished,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  the  last  of  Novem- 
ber, 1835.  The  dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Schuyler 


REV.  G.  W.   ELMER. 


MRS.  G.  W.  ELMER. 


Seager  of  Middletown.  The  original  cash  cost  of  the  church  was 
$1,400.  Only  $350  was  then  paid,  the  balance  remaining  on  interest, 
which,  after  a  heroic  struggle,  was  at  last  paid.  The  committee  on 
church  building  were  Lyman  Hurd,  Danforth  Burgess,  Erastus  Down- 
ing, Timothy  F.  Andrews  and  Cicero  Wheeler.  From  1835  to  1844 
Moodus  continued  to  be  supplied  on  the  circuit  plan,  being  connected 
with  Chesterfield,  Salem,  etc.  In  1844  and  1845  it  stood  for  the  first 
time  as  a  separate  station,  with  Rev.  William  Simmons  as  pastor.  The 
church  was  enlarged  in  1850,  during  the  pastorate  of  George  Brewster. 
Emory  Johnson,  who  died  in  1896,  was  for  many  years  a  faithful 
worker  on  all  lines  of  church  work,  and  a  strong  financial  supporter, 
and  is  greatly  missed.  Judge  Albert  E.  Purple  has  also  done  equally 
as  much,  and  still  lives  to  help  the  church  with  his  valuable  counsel  and 
liberal  support. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


81 


The  parsonage  is  an  attractive  and  commodious  home  for  any 
preacher,  and  was  bought  of  James  Emmons  in  1866  for  $1,200.  The 
barn  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Newell  in  1895. 


W.   W.  BECKWITH, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


CARLOS  E.  CHAFFEE, 
Recording  Steward. 


Moodus  is  one  of  the  prettiest  inland  villages  of  Connecticut,  and 
one  of  the  pleasantest  country  appointments  on  the  district.  The  fol- 
lowing pastors  have  served  this  church: 


PASTORS. 

1846.  Benjamin  L.  Sayer  1867-68. 

1847-48.  Henry  Torbush 

1849.  Moses  Chase  1869. 

1850.  George  W.  Brewster  1870. 

1851.  Roger  Albiston  1871. 
1852-53.  Warren  Emerson  1872-73. 

1854.  ^  John  F.  Sheffield  1874-76. 

1855.  William  Cone  1877. 

1 856-57.  Nelson  Goodrich  1878-79. 

1858-59.  Henry  W.  Conant  1880-81. 

1860.  George  Burnham  1882. 

1861.  L.  D.  Bentley  1883-84. 
1862-63.  C.  M.  Alvord  .    1885-86. 
1864.  F-  A.  Brown  1887-91. 
1865-66.  George  W.  Wooding  1892-96. 

1897. 


Joel     B.     Bishop     (died 

suddenly) 

William   Turkington 
J.  M.  Worcester 
Hefflin  S.  Smith 
Anthony  Palmer 
James  H.  Nutting 
A.  W.  Paige 
E.  M.  Anthony 

E.  F.  Smith 
R.  D.  Dyson 

F.  C.  Newell 
George  W.  Wright 
Jacob  Betts 
Wilbur  C.  Newell 
George  W.  Elmer 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— Elisha  S.  Brown,  N.  B.  Strickland,  C.  E.  Chaffee,  W. 
W.  Beckwith,  D.  J.  Treat,  A.  E.  Purple  (Treasurer),  E.  D.  Newbury 
(Secretary),  Ashley  C.  Hefflon ;  Sidney  L.  Chapman. 


82 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Stewards — Carlos  E.  Chaffee  (R.  S.),  Mrs.  Carlos  E.  Chaffee, 
Elisha  S.  Brown,  Edward  D.  Xewbury  (D.  S.),  Mrs.  Edward  D.  New- 
bury, Captain  X.  B.  Strickland,  Airs.  N.  B.  Strickland,  Ashley  C. 
Hefflon,  Clark  S.  Gates. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  W.  W.  Beckwith;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, D.  J.  Treat;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  S.  L.  Chapman; 
Librarian,  John  Treat;  Organist,  Miss  Carrie  Bowers. 

Home  Department — Superintendent,  C.  E.  Chaffee;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  S.  S.  Miss.  Soc.,  Miss  Emily  E.  Elmer. 

Teachers — Mrs.  W.  W.  Beckwith,  Carlos  E.  Chaffee,  Mrs.  Sidney 
Chapman,  Mrs.  Edward  D.  Newbury,  Mrs.  Clara  Brainerd. 

Epu'orth  League — President,  Rev.  George  W.  Elmer;  First  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Newbury;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Beckwith;  Third  Vice-President,  Dayton  J.  Treat;  Fourth  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Walter  W.  Beckwith;  Secretary,  Edward  D.  Newbury;  Treas- 
urer, Mrs.  W.  W.  Beckwith. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MOOSUP,  CO XX. 

Before    the   year    1800  the   Circuit    Riders   of   Methodism   paid 
monthly  visits  to  this  and  adjoining  towns.    In  1825-6  Plainfield  was 

an  appointment  on  the  Norwich 
Circuit,  and  a  class  of  eight 
members  was  formed  with  Ed- 
ward Dunlap  as  leader.  Rev.  B. 
Hazleton  and  O.  Robbins  were 
the  circuit  preachers.  The  first 
Quarterly  Conference  was  held 
January,  1827.  It  remained  a 
circuit  appointment  until  1835. 
The  famous  Lorenzo  Dow,  whose 
cousin,  Mary  Dow  Medbury,  is 
still  a  member  of  this  church, 
preached  here  on  one  occasion. 
Finding  about  400  persons 
crowded  into  the  old  meeting- 

THE  MOOSUP  CHURCH.  house'  which  stood  °PP°site  the 

Moosup   Cemetery,    and    a    still 

larger  number  outside,  unable  to  gain  admission,  Mr.  Dow  took  his 
congregation  to  the  woods,  just  beyond  the  cemetery,  where  he 
preached  one  of  his  characteristic  sermons. 


SOUl' EN IR  HISTORY. 


In  1841-3,  tinder  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  B.  Wheeler,  a  sweeping 
revival  occurred.  About  the  same  time  sixty-five  members  were  trans- 
ferred, to  form  the  Danielson  M.  E.  Church,  leaving  179  members. 
The  church  building,  which  up  to  this  time  had  been  known  as  the 
Union  Meeting-House,  was  purchased  by  the  Methodist  people,  re- 
paired and  refitted  for  worship.  The  Sunday  School,  organized  about 
this  time,  has  been  an  important  part  of  the  church,  contributing  not  a 
little  to  its  spiritual  success.  The  following  persons  have  filled  accept- 
ably the  important  position  of  Superintendent:  Warren  Shepard,  Jared 
Young,  James  M.  Wilcox,  Thomas  W.  Brown,  Thomas  E.  Main  and 
Miss  Lilla  E.  Millelt. 

The  roll  of  membership  has  contained  the  names  of  many  earnest 
whole-souled  Christians,  men 
and  women  of  deep  piety, 
strong  faith  and  self-sacrific- 
ing lives.  Among  them  Sam- 
uel Millet  and  his  devoted 
wife,  who  are  called  the  father 
and  mother  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  Moosup.  Mr.  Mil- 
lett  was  for  many  years  a  de- 
voted class  leader,  as  was  also 
Mr.  Jeremiah!  Young.  Other 
prominent  and  useful  mem- 
bers were  Olney  Randall, 
Davenport  Simmons,  Rufus 
Rev.  Phineas  Crandall,  who 


THE   MOOSUP  PARSONAGE. 


Wilson  and  Thomas  W.  Brown, 
served  the  church  for  two  years 
as  pastor,  and  then  retiring  from  the  ministry,  continued  to  live  here, 
has  left  a  monument  to  himself  and  wife  in  the  sweet-toned  bell  which 
rings  out  from  the  present  edifice  its  call  to  worship. 

The  church  in  which  the  people  now  worship  is  in  the  very  centre 
of  the  village,  and  pleasantly  situated.  It  was  built  in  1870  by  the 
arduous  labors  of  Rev.  Lewis  E.  Dunham,  and  marked  a  new  era  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  society.  In  1882,  during  the  pastorate  of  E.  J.  Ayres, 
the  building  was  raised,  and  a  vestry  provided  in  the  basement.  The 
interior  of  the  church  has  recently  (1896)  been  thoroughly  repaired,  a 
steel  ceiling  and  chancel  introduced,  making  it  a  most  attractive  and  in- 
viting place  of  worship.  The  parsonage,  one  of  the  most  convenient 
and  commodious,  stands  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church.  It  was  built 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Ellis  of  sainted  memory. 

Simpson  Chapter,  No.  4,525,  Epworth  League,  was  organized  in 
and  has  proved  a  blessing  to  the  church.  All  demrtments  are 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


organized  and  doing  good  work  under  the  leadership  of  earnest,  conse- 
crated Christian  officers.     Miss  Bertha  L.  Sprague,  the  president,  is  a 


REV.    F.   C.    BAKER. 


MRS.  F.  C.  BAKER. 


graduate  of  Wilbraham  Academy.  She  is  also  Recording  Steward  of 
the  church,  an  earnest  Christian,  and  abundant  in  labors.  The  League 
numbers  sixty-six  members.  Bereau  Chapter,  No.  5058,  Junior 
League,  was  organized  in  1896,  and  is  doing  good  work  under  the 
superintendency  of  Miss  Bertha  A.  Matthews. 

No  sketch  of  the  Moosup  Church  would  be  complete  that  failed  to 


MISS  LILLA  E.  MILLETT, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MISS  BERTHA  L.  SPRAGUE, 
Epworth    League   President. 


mention  its  "chorus  choir."     For  fully  twenty-five  years  Mrs.  M.  D. 
Lewis,  an  accomplished  musician  and  teacher,  has  had  charge  of  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


music,  filling  with  great  acceptability  and  very  marked  success  the  dif- 
ficult position  of  organist  and  chorister.  Under  her  efficient  manage- 
ment, ably  supported  by  a  chorus  of  some  twenty  voices,  the  singing 
has  reached  and  maintained  a  high  standard  of  proficiency.  Many  a 
large  city  church  might  envy  this  church  its  excellent  choir. 


PASTORS. 


1832-33.  '  Benjamin  Paine 

1834.  Erastus  Benton 

1835.  Ziba  Loveland 

1836.  J.  Ireson 

1837.  N.  Culon 
1838-40.  Hezekiah  Thatcher 
1841-43.  A.  B.  Wheeler 
1844.  Daniel   Dorchester 


THOMAS  E.   MAINS. 


1845. 

1846. 

1847-48. 

1849. 

1850-51. 

1852. 

1853-54. 

1855. 

1856-57. 

1858-59. 

1860. 
1861-62. 

1863. 

1864. 
1865-66. 
1867-69. 
1870-71. 

1872-74. 
1875-78. 
1879-80. 
1881-82. 
1883-84. 
1885-86. 
1887-89. 

1890-91. 
1892-94. 

1895-97. 


O.  K.  Osborn 
C.  C.  Barnes 
J.  Mather 
G.  W.  Brewster 
Warren  Emerson 
J.  F.  Sheffield 
W.  Turkington 
Peter  S.  Mather 
G.  W.  Rogers 
Robert  Parsons 
J.  M.  Worcester 
B.  M.  Walker 
S.  S.  Cummings 
S.  A.  Winsor 
P.  Crandall 

George  DeB.  Stoddard 
L.  E.  Dunham 
E.  M.  Anthony 
W.  W.  Ellis 
G.  W.  Hunt 

E.  J.  Ayres 
R.  D.  Dyson 

F.  A.  Crafts 
John  McVay 
George  H.  Butler 

E.  P.  Phreaner 

F.  C.  Baker 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— T.  E.  Mains,  H.  L.  Wilson,  J.  L.  Young,  J.  M.  Wilcox, 
Thomas  Matthews,  Henry  Pepler,  Charles  Bragg,  C.  F.  Burgess, 
C.  D.  Salisbury. 

Stewards — H.  L.  Wilson,  Joseph  Dawson,  J.  M.  Wilcox,  Henry 
Pepler,  W.  H.  Brown,  G.  W.  Gilkerson,  Mrs.  T.  E.  Mains,  Mrs.  Rose 
Whitehead,  Mrs.  H.  Pepler,  Miss  L.  E.  Millett,  Miss  Bertha  L. 
Sprague,  Miss  A.  M.  Brown,  Mrs.  M.  D.  Lewis. 

Class  Leaders — Calvin  Arnold,  Thomas  Matthews. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Miss  L.  E.  Millett;  Assistant, 
Thomas  E.  Mains;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  J.  O.  Mains;  Librarian,  E. 
Whitehead. 


86 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Teachers— "The  pastor,  H.  L.  Wilson,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Brown,  Calvin 
Arnold,  Miss  B.  L.  Sprague,  Mrs.  Rose  Whitehead,  Miss  Annie  M. 
Brown,  Mrs.  F.  C.  Baker,  Miss  L.  E.  Millett,  Miss  Bertha  A.  Matthews, 
Mrs.  William  Eyers. 

Epworth  League  (Simpson  Chapter,  No.  4,525)— President,  Bertha 
L.  Sprague;  First  Vice-President,  Bertha  A.  Matthews;  Second  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Gilkerson;  Third  Vice-President,  Annie  M. 
Brown;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Lilla  E.  Millett;  Secretary,  George  W. 
Gilkerson;  Treasurer,  Priscilla  Matthews. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  MYSTIC,  CONN. 

The  first  Methodist  church  building  in  the  village,  now  known  as 
Mystic,  was  built  in   1841.     Rev.   Benjamin  C.  Phelps,  at  that  time 

pastor  at  Old  Mystic,  three  miles 
away,  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
forming  the  new  society  at  Mys- 
tic Bridge.  Six  months  previous 
to  the  dedication  of  the  new 
church  a  nucleus  for  it  had  been 
formed  in  a  "class"  of  six  mem- 
bers, under  Rev.  Heman  Perry  of 
"Franklin  Circuit."  A  great  re- 
vival in  the  community,  under 
Elder  Swan  and  Pastor  Phelps, 
made  possible  in  a  short  time  a 
strong  Methodist  Society.  The 
Baptists  and  Methodist  evangel- 
ists immersed  their  converts  har- 
moniously in  the  river  together. 
In  1842  the  first  located  pastor 
was  settled  at  Mystic  Bridge, 
Rev.  W.  S.  Simmons,  who 
worthily  followed  up  his  prede- 
cessor's work.  Gradual  growth 

continued  to  mark  the  course  o£  Methodism  thus  transplanted  from 
the  "Head  of  the  River." 

Many  good  men  labored.  Three  of  those  workers  of  a  gen- 
eration ago  are  especially  remembered  by  persons  yet  living,  viz.,  Rev. 
James  D.  Butler,  the  pastor  of  love  and  faithfulness;  Rev.  Frederick 
Upham,  solid  as  a  rock,  good  as  gold  and  revered  by  all,  and  Rev. 


THE    MYSTIC    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Varnum  A.  Cooper.  When  Mr.  Cooper  came  the  village  was  in  its 
highest  state  of  prosperity,  there  being  seven  shipyards  in  operation. 
So  popular  was  the  pastor  that  the  old  church  (by  no  means  small) 


REV.   L.  B.   CODDING. 


MRS.  L.   B.   CODDING. 


was  uncomfortably  crowded.  A  new  building  was  started,  still  larger 
and  more  modern  in  architecture.  By  the  expiration  of  the  time  limit 
Mr.  Cooper  was  removed,  and  the  dedication  of  the  second  Methodist 


REV.  A.  A.   KIDDER, 
Ex-Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


JAMES    McKENDRICK. 
Epworth    I^eag-ue   President. 


church  building  in  Mystic  Bridge  fell  to  the  lot  of  Rev.  William  H. 
Stetson.  The  new  church  cost  about  $34,000.  At  dedication  a  debt 
of  $15,000  was  assumed  by  the  Trustees.  This  indebtedness,  after 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


hindering  the  prosperity  of  the  society  severely,  was  finally  cancelled 
in  1888,  during  W.  P.  Buck's  pastorate,  Mr.  Charles  H.  Mallory  gen- 
erously taking  up  the  last  notes  that  were  due.  Immediately  after  the 
new  enterprise  was  completed  the  prostration  of  Mystic  ship-building 


MR.  THOMAS   RYLEY, 
S.   S.  Supt. 


MRS.    THOMAS   RYLEY, 
Primary  S.    S.   Supt. 


interests  began.  Our  people  moved  away  from  lack  of  employment. 
In  1879  low  tide  was  reached.  In  that  year  Rev.  George  C.  King, 
early  sainted,  began  his  ministry  in  Mystic,  and  a  new  era  also  began 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  people,  for  whom  he  labored  and  by  whom  he 
was  truly  beloved.  Rev.  A.  G.  Coultas  and  Rev.  W.  P.  Buck  contin- 
ued with  enterprising  and  successful  pastorates. 

When  W.  P.  Buck  was  pastor,  the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev. 
Eben  Tirrell  organized  a  Methodist  church  at  Noank,  which  has  since 
been  under  the  care  of  the  pastor  at  Mystic. 


PASTORS. 


1842-43.  William  S.  Simmons 

1844.  Charles  C.  Barnes 

1845-46.  Pardon  T.  Kenney 

1847.  Franklin  Gavitt 

1848-49.  San  ford  Benton 

1850-51.  L.  C.  Collins 

1852.  D.  Cady 

1853-54.  S.  W.  Coggeshall 

J855-56.  James  D.  Butler 

1857-58.  William  Kellen 

1859-60.  Anthony  Palmer 

1861-62.  Frederick  Upham 

1863.  H.  M.  Worcester 

186^1-66.  Varnum  A.  Cooper 


1867-68. 
1869-70. 
1871-73. 

I874-75- 

1876-77. 

1878. 

1879-81. 

1882-84. 

1885-87. 

1888-91. 

1892-93. 

1893-94- 
1895-97. 


William  H.  Stetson 
William  T.  Worth 
William  P.   Hyde 
J.  F.  Sheffield 
Asa  N.  Bodfish 
George  H.  Chapnell 
George  C.  King 
A.  J.  Coultas 
H.  N.  Brown 
W.  P.  Buck 
H.  E.  Cooke 
A.  A.  Kidder 
L.  ?>.  Codding 


SOU  I 'EN  I R  HISTORY. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


89 


Trustees — M.  C.  Hill,  Randall  Browne,  Charles  F.  Holaday,  John 
E.  Williams,  Ira  F.  Noyes.  Eben  Morgan,  D.  F.  Packer,  Charles 
Grinnell,  George  E.  Grinnell. 

Stewards — Charles  E.  Grinnell,  D.  F.  Packer,  P.  A.  Irons,  G.  W. 
Keigwin,  Ira  F.  Noyes,  G.  E.  Grinnell,  Randall  Browne,  J.  E.  Wil- 
liams, C.  C.  Porter,  T.  W.  Ryley,  John  Trenena,  Thomas  Holaday. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Thomas  Ryley;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  James  McKendrick;  Librarian,  Mr.  S.  Brown  Mc- 
Kenzie;  Treasurer,  Mr.  G.  E.  Grinnell;  Secretary,  Mr.  Harrie  Mc- 
Kenzie;  Superintendent  Infant  Department,  Mrs.  A.  Blanche  Ryley. 

Teachers — Mrs.  G.  E.  Grinnell,  Mrs.  Alice  WTeems,  Mrs.  M.  C. 
Hill,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Lake,  Mrs.  R.  Browne,  Miss  Hattie  Gabriel,  Rev. 
William  Turkington,  Mr.  James  McKendrick,  Mr.  M.  C.  Hill. 

Epworth  League — President,  James  McKendrick;  First  Vice  Pres- 
ident, Lottie  Strickland;  Second  Vice  President,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Lake; 
Third  Vice  President,  Mr.  C.  C.  Potter;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Mrs. 
A.  Weems;  Secretary,  Harrie  McKenzie;  Treasurer,  S.  Brown  Mc- 
Kenzie;  Superintendent  Junior  League,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Codding. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NOANK,  CONN. 

Noank,  one  of  the  younger  charges,  is  of  good  stock,  being  vir- 
tually the  outcome  of  a  band  of  Abolitionists,  who  came  out  from  the 


THE  NOANK  CHURCH. 


Noank  Baptist  Church  in  1863.  The  formal  organization  of  the  Meth- 
odist society  was  on  April  9,  1878.  Rev.  Asa  N.  Bodfish  organized 
the  new  church  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  John  A.  Fitch,  with  a  member- 


SOUYENIR  HISTORY. 


ship  of  seven,  all  transferred  by  certificate  from  Mystic,  viz.,  William 
Healey,  Captain  Charles  T.  Potter,  E.  L.  Beebe,  John  F.  Tribble, 
Susan  B.  Healey,  Etta  Healey  and  Julia  A.  Morgan.  In  1878  Rev. 
L.  D.  Bentley  and  Mrs.  Annie  Clark  held  revival  services  in  Noank, 

creating  so  much  interest  that  the 
building  of  a  house  of  worship 
was  begun.  Mrs.  Clark  secured 
many  contributions  for  this  new 
edifice,  and  it  was  dedicated  June 
9,  1878.  Soon  after  this  Rev. 
Henry  N.  Brown  served  the 
"Chapel,"  as  it  was  called,  as  its 
first  pastor.  He  was  efficient  and 
popular.  "Holiness  unto  the  Lord" 
was  his  motto,  and  the  people  held 
up  his  hands.  For  the  first  six 
years  after  Mr.  Brown's  pastorate 
there  was  no  Conference  minister 
stationed  there,  but  regular  Sun- 
day and  wreek-night  services  were 
kept  up,  a  good  congregation 
gathered,  and  scores  of  conversions  witnessed. 

Some  of  their  numbers  became  Gospel  workers,  notably  Rev. 
Andrew  J.  Potter  and  Rev.  C.  T.  Potter.  Mr.  John  A.  Fitch,  whose 
photograph  accompanies  this  sketch,  was  the  leading  spirit,  a  Godly 
man,  whose  home  and  time  were  always  at  the  disposal  of  his  church. 


JOHN  A.  FITCH, 

First  Treasurer. 


MILTON  M.  MATTESON, 
Epworth    League   President. 


WILLIAM  WILSON, 
Early  Member. 


SOUVENIR   HISTORY.  91 

He  was  the  only  Recording  Steward,  until  his  death,  in  1896.  Brother 
William  Wilson  has  also  been  a  loyal  official  from  the  first.  In  1888 
Rev.  W.  P.  Buck  became  the  Noank  pastor.  His  four-year  pastorate 
was  in  every  way  a  success,  leaving  the  church  membership  larger  and 
well  organized  for  work.  Rev.  H.  A.  Cooke,  Rev.  A.  A.  Kidder  and 
the  present  pastor  have  found  appreciative  hearers  and  consecrated 
workers.  A  gracious  revival  visited  this  field  in  1895-96.  It  is  a 
religious  community,  and  is  a  thriving  village  also  in  its  business, 
having  one  of  the  best  wooden  ship-building  industries  in  the  country. 
It  is  a  good  field  for  the  Lord's  work. 

PASTORS. 

1879-81.     Henry  N.  Brown  1893-95.     A.  A.  Kidder 

1888-92.     W.  P.  Buck  1895-97.     L.  B.  Codding 

1892-93.     H.  E.  Cooke 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — F.  W.  Morgan,  Louis  E.  Peterson,  C.  I.  Chester,  James 
Wilcox,  Edward  Crumley,  George  Porter,  Milton  M.  Matteson,  John 
Spencer;  William  WTilson. 

Stewards — F.  W.  Morgan,  Ella  Morgan,  Louis  E.  Peterson,  Wil- 
liam Wilson,  George  Porter,  Maria  Peterson,  Annie  Wilson,  Harriet 
Chester,  Clissie  Libbey. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Charles  I.  Chester;  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  William  WTilson;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
C.  V.  Libbey. 

Teachers — Mrs.  C.  I.  Chester,  Ella  P.  Morgan,  Lottie  Morgan, 
Mrs.-  Ellen  Rathbun,  Mrs.  Maria  Peterson,  William  Wilson,  F.  W. 
Morgan,  Mrs.  Lillie  Rogers. 

Epworth  League — President,  Milton  M.  Matteson;  First  Vice 
President,  L.  Peterson;  Second  Vice  President,  Mrs.  A.  Wilson;  Third 
Vice  President,  Mrs.  Ruth  Palmer;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Ruth 
Palmer;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Calista  Libbey. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEW  LONDON,  CONN. 

(This  historic  sketch  is  largely  prepared  from  a  sketch  published 
in  the  New  London  Telegram,  Oct.  30,  1893,  during  the  Centennial 
Anniversary  of  this  church. — The  Editor.) 

The  introduction  of  Methodism  to  New  London  was  by  Jesse  Lee, 
Wednesday,  September  2,  1789.  He  was  on  his  way  through  Rhode 
Island  to  Boston  to  see  what  opportunity  offered  for  the  work  of  the 
Methodists  in  those  parts.  He  had  come  to  Connecticut  from  New 

York  the  preceding  May  for  the 
special  purpose  of  establishing 
preaching  places  and  circuits  to  be 
occupied  later  by  preachers  to  be 
sent  to  his  assistance  from  the 
South. 

He  organized  the  first  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  society  in  New  Eng- 
land at  Stratfield,  Conn.,  on  Sep- 
tember 25  in  that  year.  He  stopped 
in  New  London  several  times  dur- 
ing the  next  and  succeeding  sea- 
sons, but  formed  no  society. 

Bishop  Asbury  passed  through 
the  village  in  June,  1791,  on  his 
way  to  hold  the  conference  in 
Lynn,  Mass.  This  being  his  first 
visit  to  New  England,  he  was 
much  impressed  with  the  condition 
of  the  country  and  the  contrast  it 
afforded  to  that  of  the  South  and 
the  frontiers,  and  records  in  his  journal  his  impressions  and  hopes. 

On  August  ii  of  1793  a  conference  was  held  at  Tolland,  at  which 
George  Roberts  was  placed  as  an  Elder  in  charge  of  all  the  work  in 
Connecticut,  included  in  the  circuits  of  Hartford,  Middletown,  Litch- 
field  and  Tolland,  and  a  new  one  was  formed,  called  New  London,  to 
which  he  was  appointed  with  R.  Swain  and  F.  Aldridge  as  junior 
preachers. 

This  circuit  embraced  all  Connecticut  east  of  Tolland.  It  included 
Windham,  Hebron,  Glastonbury,  and  extended  down  the  Connecticut 
River  to  Lyme  and  reached  into  Rhode  Island.  It  covered  very  nearly 
the  same  territory  that  is  now  known  as  the  Norwich  District  of  the 
New  England  Southern  Conference. 


THF.  NEW  LONDON  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


93 


In  October  a  class  was  formed  in  New  London.  The  first  class 
paper  was  in  the  handwriting  of  George  Roberts,  and  being  dated 
October  24,  it  has  usually  been  supposed  that  the  society  was  organ- 
ized the  evening  previous.  The  Register  of  Church  Membership,  how- 
ever, compiled  in  1818,  during  the  lifetime  of  its  first  members,  gives 
the  date  as  October  1 1,  1793.  The  names  of  those  enrolled  are  Richard 
Douglass,  Ann  Douglass,  Nancy  Douglass,  Peter  Griffing,  Jenett  Hall, 
Anab  Moor,  Sally  Lewis,  Isaac  Rogers.  On  the  2/th  of  the  month 
there  were  added  Mary  Lewis,  George  Potter,  Elizabeth  Potter,  Ann 
Smith.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  seven  others  joined,  viz.,  Mary 
Smith,  Freelove  Miller,  Luther  Gale,  Abigail  Potter  and  Epaphras 
Kibby.  The  number  reported  at  the  close  of  the  year  for  the  whole 
circuit  was  fifty. 

Mr.   Roberts  exhibited  "extraordinary   pulpit  power."     Though 

never    given    to    controversy,    yet,  

preaching  in  the  Court  House  one 
evening,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  reply 
to  the  arguments  he  had  heard  pre- 
sented in  the  afternoon  in  the  same 
place  in  a  sermon  by  a  distin- 
guished Universalist  minister.  Such 
was  the  effect  of  his  logic  and  pow- 
ers of  persuasion  that  more  than  a 
dozen  young  men  were  awakened 
religiously.  Among  them  was 
Epaphras  Kibby,  who  soon  joined 
the  society,  and  in  1798  became  a 
traveling  preacher  of  marked  abil- 
ity, well  known  throughout  New 
England  till  his  death  in  1864,  at 
the  age  of  87  years,  67  of  which  were  spent  in  the  ministry. 

A  revival  of  considerable  extent  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1794. 
Before  the  close  of  the  year  the  societies  of  the  circuit  numbered  219 
persons.  The  names  of  39  persons  only  are  preserved  on  the  Church 
Register  as  having  joined  in  New  London  during  this  time. 

Methodism  was  now  well  established  in  the  place,  and  included 
in  its  fold  many  people  of  sterling  integrity  and  excellent  ability. 
Daniel  Burrows,  who  joined  the  class  in  January,  1794,  was  afterwards 
a  local  preacher,  a  member  of  Congress  and  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion which  adopted  the  present  State  Constitution. 

December  15,  1795,  a  meeting  was  held  to  plan  for  the  building 
of  a  meeting-house.  A  subscription  paper  was  started,  but  the  build- 
ing was  not  erected  till  1798. 


REV.   RICHARD    POVEY. 


94 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Though  possessed  of  no  meeting-house  till  five  years  after  the 
church  was  formed,  the  society  was  able  to  hold  its  preaching  services 
in  the  Court  House  and  the  other  meetings  at  the  houses  of  the 
members.  July  15,  1795,  Bishop  Asbury  held  a  conference  in  the 
house  of  Daniel  Burrows.  Nineteen  preachers  were  present. 

On  Friday,  July  20,  1798,  the  first  meeting-house  was  raised,  and 
on  the  following  Sunday  it  was  dedicated.  Jesse  Lee  and  Bishop  As- 
bury were  both  present  and  preached.  The  house  stood  on  Golden 
Hill,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  what  is  now  Union  and  Methodist 
streets.  It  was  afterward  sold  and  removed,  and  now  stands  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Methodist  and  Washington  streets.  The  lot  of 

26  1-2  square  rods  cost  $225. 
The  building  was  in  an  unfin- 
ished state  till  1800.  The 
first  Board  of  Trustees  con- 
sisted of  Richard  Douglass, 
Daniel  Burrows,  George  Pot- 
ter, Peter  Griffing,  Isaiah 
Bolles,  Luther  Gale  and  John 
Shepherd. 

In  1806  there  was  some  re- 
vival interest,  yet  the  reports 
show  no  great  addition  to  the 
numbers  in  the  society.  Dur- 
ing the  seven  years  previous  the  increase  had  been  gradual,  till  now 
381  members  were  reported  on  the  whole  circuit,  but  what  proportion 
of  these  was  in  the  village  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain. 

April  17,  1808,  Conference  assembled  here  for  the  second  time. 
Fifty  preachers  were  in  attendance.  The  meeting-house  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  was  courteously  tendered  for  the  ordination 
service,  and  Bishop  Asbury  accordingly  preached  and  ordained  the 
preachers  there  on  Sunday.  A  great  revival  followed  this  Conference 
session  and  continued  many  months. 

In  1816  a  great  revival  began  in  September  and  continued  many 
months,  all  the  churches  sharing  in  it  and  all  classes  in  the  community 
being  reached.  Three  hundred  were  added  to  the  Methodist  Church. 
The  old  meeting-house  was  now  too  small  to  accommodate  the  people. 
Rev.  Ebenez^r  Blake,  one  of  the  preachers,  headed  the  subscription  list 
for  a  new  building.  The  old  one  was  sold  and  removed,  and  a  new  one 
erected  on  the  old  site,  which  was  dedicated  in  1817,  Mr.  Blake  preach- 
ing the  dedication  sermon. 

In   1818,  New  London  was  made  a  station  by  request  of  the 


THE  NEW  LONDON  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR   HISTORY. 


95 


society,  and  Asa  Kent  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  He  was  a  man 
of  rare  executive  ability.  The  records  of  the  church  were  for  the  first 
time  put  in  proper  shape  and  careful  revision  made  of  the  membership 
list.  During  the  two  years  of  his  pastorate  one  hundred  and  fifty  were 
taken  into  the  church,  but  the  total  increase  was  not  great,  since  sixty- 
eight  removed,  twenty  were  dropped,  three  withdrew  and  twenty- 
four  were  expelled.  Peace,  harmony  and  prosperity  in  general  char- 
acterized this  pastorate. 

He  was  followed  in  1820  by  Elijah  Hedding,  afterward  Bishop, 
who  found  the  recent  revivals  had  added  many  excellent  people  to 
the  church,  but  had  also  brought  in  a  boisterous,  unruly  element,  mak- 


"There  will  be  Preaching  at  the  Court  House  Tonight 

at  early  candle-light  by  a  Methodist  Preacher," 

Jesse  Lee,   September  2,  1789. 

ing  high  professions  of  piety,  but  extremely  visionary,  uncharitable 
and  refusing  all  financial  support  to  the  church.  Though  a  man  of 
gi  eat  abilities  and  devotion,  little  progress  could  be  made.  His  health 
failed,  and  he  left  the  charge  before  the  end  of  the  year. 

Matters  grew  worse  during  the  next  few  years.  The  crisis  came 
in  1827,  during  the  pastorate  of  La  Roy  Sunderland.  Robert  Bowser, 
who  had  been  junior  preacher  on  the  circuit  in  1812,  had  retired  from 
the  ministry,  after  one  year  of  service,  and  settled  in  New  London. 
Being  brought  to  trial  by  Mr.  Sunderland  on  charges  of  immorality, 
he  was  found  guilty  and  expelled.  Many  of  the  most  influential  mem- 
bers of  the  society  opposed  this  action,  and  the  Trustees  closed  the 
church  against  this  preacher. 

Open  ruptures  between  the  Trustees  and  Church  came  in  1829, 
when,  the  house  being  closed  against  the  Church,  they  had  to  hire 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


the  old  meeting-house.  This  controversy  was  the  culmination  of  ten 
years  of  dissension.  The  election  of  a  new  Board  of  Trustees  in  1830 
and  the  appointment  of  James  Porter  to  the  station  in  1831  and  1832, 
who  administered  the  discipline  of  the  church  firmly,  settled  the 
troubles.  Some  were  expelled,  others  withdrew,  and  the  remainder 
rallied  for  united  work  and  had  a  good  revival. 

The  subject  of  slavery  was  much  discussed  throughout  the  coun- 
try from  1834  to  1840.  A  strong  anti-slavery  feeling  was  developed 
in  the  New  England  churches. 

In  1840  many  withdrew  from  the  denomination  and  organized  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  without  Bishops.  Forty  members  of  this 
church  withdrew  and  joined  the  new  movement.  The  trustees  were 
in  sympathy  with  them,  and  gave  them  the  use  of  the  meeting-house, 


GEORGE  W.  GUARD, 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


S.  A.  PRENTIS, 
Bpworth    League   President. 


shutting  out  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  became  reduced 
in  numbers  to  155  members.  John  Lovejoy  was  pastor  in  1839-40. 
The  conference  room  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  was  secured 
for  meetings.  Next  year,  under  the  pastorate  of  Ralph  W.  Allen,  they 
were  allowed  the  use  of  their  own  meeting-house,  but  being  again 
warned  out  by  the  Trustees,  went  to  the  Court  House  in  the  spring  of 
1842.  Here  the  congregations  increased  and  revival  influences  pre- 
vailed. Many  were  converted  and  added  to  the  church.  Pending  the 
settlement  of  the  title  to  the  meeting-house  on  Union  street,  a  new 
building  enterprise  was  undertaken.  A  lot  was  secured  on  Washing- 
ton street,  and  the  cornerstone  of  a  new  church  edifice  was  laid  by  the 
pastor  July  4,  1842.  The  house  was  dedicated  December  8  following 
by  Miner  Raymond,  D.  D. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


97 


The  closing  of  the  first  half-century  of  the  church's  history  was 
celebrated  June  4,  1843.  This  Sunday  was  the  last  one  in  the  Confer- 
ence year.  The  membership  numbered  293.  The  church  was  united, 
harmonious,  rejoicing  in  a  new  church-house  and  in  large  accessions 
of  recent  converts.  Bishops  Morris  and  Hedding  were  present  and 
preached  during  the  day. 

Many  noble  men  and  women,  true  to  God  and  devoted  to  the 
Church,  had  been  numbered  in  the  membership  since  George  Roberts 
formed  the  first  class.  Few  churches  ever  had  such  extensive  revivals 
and  large  additions  to  its  membership  in  a  like  period  of  time.  Few 
ever  passed  through  such  bitter  controversies  and  still  maintained  an 
existence.  Fewer  still  ever  emerged  from  the  fires  so  strong  in  spirit- 
ual power, -so  united  for  work 'and  possessing  the  confidence  of  the 
community  at  large. 

The  second  half-century  has  seen  the  church  steadily  advance  in 
numbers  and  material  prosperity.  Though  there  have  been  fewer 
sweeping  revivals  than  in  the  earlier  period,  there  has  been  more  peace 
and  harmony  and  a  higher  general  tone  of  morality  prevailing. 

The  pastors  have  generally  done  noble  work.  Many  of  them 
have  become  distinguished.  Revivals  have  occurred  in  nearly  every 
pastorate.  Rev.  John  B.  Gould's  pastorate  was  blessed  with  70  addi- 
tions to  the  church  at  one  service.  During  Rev.  J.  E.  Hawkins'  pastor- 
ate the  church  was  cleared  of  a  $2,500  debt.  Valuable  improvements 
took  place  during  the  pastorates  of  Rev.  A.  J.  Coultas  and  W.  J. 
Yates.  During  the  latter  there  was  also  a  blessed  revival  that  added 
many  to  the  church,  and  the  centennial  of  the  church  was  observed. 
During  the  present  pastorate  some  valuable  improvements  have  been 
made  on  the  church  and  parsonage.  The  present  membership  is  431,. 
with  41  probationers. 

PASTORS. 


T793-          George  Roberts  T799- 

R.  Swain 

Fredus   Aldriclge  1800. 

1794.          W.  Lee 

D.  Abbott  1801. 
Z.  Priest 

E.  Muclge 

T795-          Amos  G.  Thompson         1802. 
L.  McCombs 

1796.  Nathaniel  Chapin  1803. 
Timothy  Merritt 

1797.  Shadrach  Bostwick  1804. 
John  Nichol 

1798.  N.  Chapin,  1805. 
Shubal  Lamb 


L.  McCombs 
Abner  Wood 
Daniel  Brumley 
Alexander  McLane 
Peter  Vannest 
Phineas  Peck 
James  Annis 
Michael  Coate 
Aaron  Hunt 
John  Nichol 
William  Pickett 
Abner  Wood 
Benjamin  Hill 
Nathan  Emory 
Thomas  Branch 


98 

SOUVENIR 

HISTORY. 

i8o6. 

Ebenezer  Washburn 

1829.           E 

G.  Norris 

L 

1807. 

Daniel  Perry 

1830.          1 

Theoph.  Smith 

C 

1808. 

G.  R.  Norris 

1831-32.     J; 

Isaac  Bonney 

1833-34.     E 

1809. 

Elisha  Streeter 

1835-36.   s 

John  Lindsay 

1837-           I 

1810. 

Joel  Winch 

1838.          A 

E.  Marble 

1839-40.     J, 

A.  Stebbins 

1841.          F 

1811. 

J.  Chancy 

E 

B.  Sabin 

1842.          F 

J.  Lewis 

1843-44.     S 

1812. 

Warren  Banister 

1845-          J 

Robert  Bowzer 

S 

1813. 

Joel  Steel 

1846.          J. 

William  Marsh 

1847-48.     A 

1814. 

Francis  Dane 

1849-50.     C 

V.  R.  Osborn 

1851.          S 

1815- 

Elisha  Streeter 

1852-53-     1 

Nathan  Paine 

1854-55-     ^ 

1816. 

Ebenezer  Blake 

1856-57-     J 

1816. 

Daniel  Dorchester 

1858-59-     J' 

1817. 

E.  Blake 

1  860-6  1.     F 

J.  McKee 

1862-63.     \ 

1818-19. 

Asa  Kent 

1864-65.     F 

1820. 

Elijah  Hedding 

1866-67.     V 

1821. 

V.  R.  Osborn 

1868-69.     J 

1822-23. 

T.  W.  Tucker 

1870-71.     L 

1824. 

D.  Dorchester 

1872-73.     A 

George  Fairbank 

1874-76.     J 

J.  W.  Case 

1877-79.     C 

1825. 

Isaac  Stoddard 

1  880-8  1.     F 

1826. 

Newell  S.  Spaulding 

1882-84.     S 

1827. 

La  Roy  Sunderland 

1885-87.     J 

1828. 

A.  Taylor 

1888-91.     / 

George  Sutherland 

1  892-94.     \ 

1895.          F 

Reuben  Ransom 
L.  B.  Griffing 
L.   B.  Griffing 
C.  D.  Rogers 
James  Porter 
E.  Blake 
S.  B.  Haskell 
Daniel  Webb 
\braham  Holway 
John  Lovejoy 
Ralph  W.  Allen 
B.  C.  Phelps 
R.  Wr.  Allen 
Sanford  Benton 
John  Howson 
Sanford  Benton 
John  Howson 
M.  P.  Alderman 
George  M.  Carpenter 
Samuel  Fox 
Thomas  Ely 
Merritt  P.  Alderman 
John  B.  Gould 
John  D.  King 
Paul  Townsend 
Varnum  A.  Cooper 
Francis  J.  WTagner 
W.  J.  Robinson 
James  D.  Butler 
Charles  S.  McReading 
A.  W.  Paige 
John  Gray 

George  W.  Anderson 
Henry  D.  Robinson 
S.  Olin  Benton 
J.  Ellis  Hawkins 
A.  J.  Coultas 
Walter  J.  Yates 
R.  Povey 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Sunday  School— Superintendent,  Stephen  A.  Prentis,  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Frederick  Miner;  Secretary,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Rogers;  As- 
sistant Secretary,  Albert  E.  Harris;  Treasurer,  Hezekiah  B.  Smith; 
Librarian,  Charles  Butler;  First  Assistant  Librarian,  Harry  Holmes; 
Second  Assistant  Librarian,  Frederick  Edgerton;  Pianist,  Mary 
Decker;  Chorister,  Benjamin  B.  Gardiner;  Superintendent  Primary 
Department,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Bushnell;  Superintendent  Intermediate  De- 
partment, Sarah  Jewell  Havens. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


99 


Teachers — Lillian  Daniels,  John  Goddard,  Airs.  L.  P.  Vinton, 
Lucy  A.  Kellogg,  Mrs.  Edward  Potter,  Andrew  J.  Hobron,  John  H. 
Root,  Cassie  Barker,  Walter  S.  Calvert,  Annie  Adams,  Minnie  G.  Bar- 
ker, Mrs.  R.  H.  Perkins,  Mary  A.  Winchester,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Hovey, 
Myra  Miller,  Esther  Povey,  Thomas  Phillips,  Walter  Meggs,  Mrs.  W. 
H.  Edwards,  Walter  E.  Spicer,  Alice  Wheeler,  Mrs.  Charles  Morris, 
Mrs.  L.  D.  Bentley,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Root,  Irene  Douglass,  Ethel  Kellogg, 
Nettie  Levens,  Etta  Crocker,  Edna  Booth,  Harriet  Walden,  Lettie 
Whitaker,  Charles  E.  Senior,  Henry  L.  Stearns,  Alice  Cheesman,  Ger- 
trude Page,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Prentis,  Mrs.  Blake,  Julia  Miner,  Benjamin  B. 
Gardiner,  Rev.  R.  Povey.  Substitutes,  George  H.  Holmes,  Lillian 
Noone. 

Epzi'orth  League — President,  George  W.  Guard;  First  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Harriet  Walden;  Second  Vice  President,  Lucretia  H.  Root; 
Third  Vice  President,  Luther  G.  Stebbins;  Fourth  Vice  President, 
Harriet  E.  Squire ;  Secretary,  Grace  Emma  Povey ;  Treasurer,  Charles 
W.  Clark. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NIANTIC,  CONN. 
By  Rev.  J.  T.  Benton. 

Niantic  is  located  in  the  town  of  East  Lyme,  eight  miles  west  of 
New  London,  Conn.  It  is  quite  a  seaside  resort.  Methodist  preach- 
ing, according  to  traditional  authority,  dates  from  the  year  1810.  A 


THE  NIANTIC  CHURCH. 


small  class  was  organized  about  that  time,  but  did  not  continue  long-. 
For  several  subsequent  years  itinerant  preachers  occasionally  visited 
the  place,  and  held  services  in  private  residences.  The  class  was  re- 


1OO 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


THE  NIANTIC   PARSONAGE. 


vived  in  1836,  and  class  meetings  were  held  quite  regularly  from  that 
time.  The  church  was  organized  February  ist,  1842.  The  following 
year  a  circuit  was  formed  and  named  Lyme  and  East  Lyme.  Rev. 
A.  ]',.  Wheeler  was  the  first  Conference  preacher.  A  house  of  worship 

was  built  that  year  at  a  cost  of 
about  $1,000,  on  land  donat- 
ed by  Captain  Avery  Smith. 
It  was  dedicated  November 
3,  1843,  by  Rev.  R.  W.  Allen, 
Presiding  Elder.  In  1858 
the  first  parsonage  was 
erected.  Rev.  G.  D.  Boyn- 
ton  was  then  pastor.  Lyme 
and  East  Lyme  continued  in 
charge  till  1869.  Then  East 
Lyme  had  become  so  re- 
duced by  deaths  that  the 
Presiding  Elder  deemed  it  inadvisable  to  send  a  preacher  to  this 
place.  However,  a  few  faithful  members  continued  to  meet  on  the 
Sabbath  for  worship.  In  the  Fall  of  that  year  Rev.  D.  C.  House  was 
licensed  and  placed  in  charge.  The  appointment  thereafter  was  named 
Xiantic.  A  number  of  English 
Methodists  arrived  about  this  time 
and  added  courage  and  strength  to 
the  languishing  society.  Larger 
church  accommodations  were  re- 
quired, and  a  new  edifice  was 
erected  in  1873.  Rgv-  J-  ^-  Buck- 
ley, D.  D.,  preached  the  dedica- 
tory sermon.  Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan 
was  pastor.  Many  were  added  to 
the  church  during  his  term  of  ser- 
vice. The  first  Sunday  School  was 
organized  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Benton  in 
1856.  Twenty  years  later  he  was 
appointed  to  this  charge  a  second 
time,  and  inaugurated  more  sys- 
tematic methods  of  church  work. 

His  successor,  Rev.  C.  H.  Ewer,  by  skilful  management, 
secured  the  erection  of  a  new  and  commodious  parsonage  on  a  lot 
given  by  Captain  Edward  Luce.  During  the  years  1882-83  a  large 
number  of  Swedish  Methodists  joined  the  church.  Their  zeal  and 


CHARLES  E.   LATHAM. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


101 


fidelity  greatly  increased  its  efficiency.  The  society  had  now  attained 
considerable  numerical  strength,  and  every  department  of  church  work 
was  sustained  faithfully  and  successfully.  For  several  years  the  church 
was  favored  with  a  high  degree  of  prosperity.  Subsequently  it  suf- 
fered great  reduction  in  numbers  and  resources  from  business  changes 
and  financial  depression.  Many  excellent  families  moved  away.  The 
Great  Reaper  also  garnered  quite  a  harvest  of  ripened  sheaves.  HOW- 


REV.  J.  E.  JOHNSON. 


MRS.  J.  E.   JOHNSON. 


ever,  the  Niantic  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  never  entertained 
the  expectation  of  death.  In  1890,  the  first  year  of  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  W.  I.  Ward,  Epworth  League,  Chapter  3125,  was  organized. 
During  his  fourth  year  a  subscription  for  improvements  in  the  house 
of  worship  was  commenced.  The  work  was  carried  forward  and  com- 
pleted by  his  successor,  Rev.  R.  D.  Dyson.  The  total  cost  was  nearly 
$1,700.  No  indebtedness  was  incurred.  The  society  has  now  a  very 
attractive  audience-room  and  chapel.  The  most  marked  characteristics 
of  the  Niantic  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  have  been  loyalty,  liber- 
ality, fraternity  and  spirituality. 

PASTORS. 


1843. 

1844-45. 

1846-47. 
1848-49. 
1850.  " 

1851. 
1852. 


A.  B.  Wheeler 
Henry  Torbush 
Roger  Albiston 
M.  Leffingwell 
I.  Sherman 
J.  F.  Rlanchard 
J.  F.  Blanchard 
J.  Standish 
J.  B.  Dennison 


1853- 
1854. 

1855-56. 

1857. 

1858. 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-65. 

1866-68. 


P.  S.  Mather 
H.  W.  Smith 
J.  T.  Benton 
J.  W.  Case 
G.  D.  Boynton 
Lozien  Pierce 
F.  C.  Newell 
Jabez  Pack 
L.   E.  Dunham 


IO2 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1869-70. 

D.  C.  House 

1871-73- 

D.  A.  Jordan 

1874- 

A.  Palmer 

1875. 

A.  A.  Presbrey 

1876-78. 

J.  T.  Benton 

1879-81. 

C.  H.  Ewer 

1882-83. 

Robert  Clark 

1884-86. 

1887-88. 

1889. 

1890-93. 

1894-96. 

1897. 


f.  C.  Gowan 

E.  Tirrell 

Joseph   Hollingshead 

W.  I.  Ward 

R.  D.  Dyson 

J.  E.  Johnson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees Edward  Luce,  Thomas  Hill,  Warren  Gates,  Nehemiah 

Gates. 

Stewards — Edward  Luce,  Warren  Gates,  Nehemiah  Gates,  Martin 
C.  Walter,  John  White,  Thomas  Hill,  James  Odgers,  John  Taylor, 
William  G.  Williams,  Lizzie  A.  Benton,  Susan  K.  Luce,  Flora  M. 
Smith. 

Sunday  School — Suerintendent,  Susan  K.  Luce;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, W7illiam  G.  Williams;  Secretary,  Alvin  W.  Gates;  Treasurer, 
Mary  E.  Hick;  Librarian,  Arthur  E.  Havens;  Assistant  Librarian, 
Annie  Rook;  Chorister,  Nettie  Dunstan;  Organist,  Annie  Hill;  Assist- 
ant Organist,  Beatrice  Kingdon. 

Teachers — Nehemiah  Gates,  Lottie  R.  Havens,  Susie  Rook,  Jas. 
H.  Dingle,  Warren  Gates,  Charles  E.  Latham,  Mary  E.  Gates,  Edward 
Luce,  Eunice  Gates,  Bertha  M.  Latham,  Edna  Beckwith,  Bradford  A. 
Latham,  Florence  T.  Chapman,  William  G.  Williams,  Mary  E.  Hick, 
Nettie  Dunstan,  Annie  Hill,  J.  E.  Johnson. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORTH  GROSVENOR  DALE,  CONN. 

North  Grosvenor  Dale  charge  is  in  the  town  of  Thompson,  Conn. 
It  was  formerly  known  as  the  Fisherville  charge,  but  since  1866  the 

charge  has  been  known  by  its 
present  name. 

In  the  year  1841  a  project 
was  started  to  build  a  stock- 
holders' house  of  worship  in 
this  village  by  George  Nich- 
ols, Edward  Aldrich,  William 
Fisher  and  sons  and  others. 
This  movement  being  suc- 
cessful, the  Providence  Con- 
ference \vas  asked  to  send  a 
preacher.  In  response  to  this 
request  Rev.  Charles  C. 
Barnes  was  sent  in  June, 
xo.  GROSVENOR  DALE  CHURCH.  1842.  After  his  arrival 


SOUVENIR  PI  I  STORY. 


103 


meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  until  the  church  edi- 
fice was  completed.  This  was  accomplished,  and  the  building  was  ded- 
icated in  August,  1842.  Rev.  Miner  Raymond  preached  the  dedica- 
tory sermon,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  A.  D.  Merrill  in  the  evening, 
some  presenting  themselves  for  prayers  at  the  close  of  the  service. 

Some  of  the  earliest  mem- 
bers of  this  church  came  from 
the  Webster  charge,  but  the 
greater  number  were  trans- 
ferred from  the  old  West 
Thompson  Church.  Mr. 
Barnes'  term  of  service  was 
prosperous.  According  to  his 
report  to  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence there  were  128  members 
at  the  close  of  the  first  year. 
He  remained  two  years  upon 
the  charge. 

The  church  was  somewhat  embarrassed  financially  at  the  begin- 
ning, and  it  continued  in  this  state  for  several  years. 

In  January, '  1857,  Mr.  Joseph  Green,  who  usually  worshiped 
here,  died,  leaving  to  the  church  the  generous  sum  of  $3,000,  $1,500 
of  which  was  to  be  expended  for  a  parsonage,  $700  for  a  "fund"  and 
$800  to  take  the  church  edifice  out  of  the  hands  of  the  stockholders, 


NO.  GRCSVENOR  DALE  PARSONAGE. 


REV.  G.   H.  HASTINGS. 


MRS.    G.    H.    HASTINGS. 


pay  off  its  liabilities  and  make  it  a  free  church.  This  gift  was  a  great 
and  timely  aid  to  the  society.  The  provisions  of  the  will  were  carried 
out  at  once,  and  the  present  parsonage  was  purchased  in  1857. 


IO4 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


During  several  of  the  pastorates  repairs  and  improvements  have 
been  made  in  the  church  and  parsonage  property.  Recently  the  par- 
sonage has  been  repaired  and  improved  at  an  expense  of  several  hun- 
dred dollars,  rendering  it  much  more  attractive  and  comfortable. 


HON'.   OSCAR  TOURTELLOTTE, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


REV.  F.  M.  MESSENGER, 
Local  Preacher. 


This  charge  is  prosperous  financially  and  spiritually.  There  are 
two  preaching  places  in  this  charge.  The  pastor  preaches  in  the 
church  at  North  Grosvenor  Dale  in  the  morning  and  at  Grosvenor 
Dale  in  the  afternoon. 


PASTORS. 


1842.  Charles  C.  Barnes 

1844-45.  Anthony  Palmer 

1846-47.  F.  W.  Bill 

1848-49.  Daniel  Dorchester 

1850-51.  Robert  McGonegal 

1852.  L.  D.  Bentley 

1853-54.  E-  F.  Hinks  ' 

J855-5°-  Warren   Emerson 

r8S7-58.  William  S.  Simmons 

1859-60.  O.  Cady 

1861-62.  E.  S.  Stanley 

1863.  Anthony  Palmer 

1864-65.  James  A.  Dean 

1866-67.  L.  W.  Blood 

1868-69.  L.  E.  Dunham 


1870-71. 
1872. 
1873. 
1875- 


1876-77. 

1878-80. 

1881-82. 

1883-84. 

1885. 

1886-88. 

1889-92. 

1893-97. 


A.  A.  Presbrey 
James  S.  Thomas 
Richard  Povey 
F.     D.     Goodrich    (six 

months) 
F.      D.      Sargent     (six 

months) 

E.  M.  Anthony 
J.  Q.  Adams 

F.  C.  Newell 

D.  L.  Brown 

E.  F.  Smith 
George  A.  Morse 
E.  J.  Ayres 
George  H.  Hastings 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


105 


Trustees — E.  Perrin,  J.  N.  Upham,  O.  Tourtelotte,  F.  M.  Mes- 
senger, E.  F.  Thompson,  L.  M.  Child,  C.  A.  Potter,  George  A.  Elliott, 
C.  H.  Hnntington. 

Stewards — E.  Perrin,  George  A.  Elliott,  T.  Wilbur,  E.  M.  Arnold, 
W.  S.  Arnold,  D.  S.  Curtis,  F.  S.  Richmond,  M.  A.  Darbie,  J.  B.  Tour- 
telotte, F.  A.  Maryolle,  B.  E.  Elliott,  E.  L.  Huntington,  Joseph  Baker. 

Local  Preacher — F.  M.  Messenger. 

E.vhorter — D.  S.  Curtis. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Oscar  Tourtelotte;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Charles  A.  Potter;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Burton 
E.  Elliott;  Librarian,  Everett  L.  Huntington;  Assistant  Librarian, 
Frank  M.  Messenger,  Jr.;  Organist,  Miss  Alice  M.  Potter. 

Teachers — F.  M.  Messenger,  E.  M.  Arnold,  Alice  M.  Spencer, 
C.  A.  Potter,  Mattie  C.  Potter,  Louva  C.  Potter,  Joseph  Baker. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Myron  A.  Darbie;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Walter  S.  Arnold;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  James  C. 
Blinn;  Librarian,  C.  H.  Austin. 

Teachers—  M.  A.  Darbie,  W.  S.  Arnold,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Elliott, 
Mrs.  Florence  I.  Austin;  Organist,  Miss  Ida  L.  Hutchinson. 


NORTH  MAIN  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORWICH,  CONN. 

In  1833,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Isaac  Stoddard  over  the 
Norwich  appointment,  five   Methodist  ladies   removed   to  Greenville 


REV.    AND   MRS.    D.    N.    BENTLEY. 


and  were  employed  in  the  cotton  mill   of  Mr.   Archibald  Kennedy. 
These  were  soon  formed  into  a  class,  and  Mr.  Jesse  Denison,  who  was 


io6 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


an  exhorter,  was  appointed  the  first  leader.  The  names  of  those  emi- 
nent five  were  Hannah  Cranston,  Sabra  Bushnell,  Roxana  Stark- 
weather, Sarah  Denison  and  Belinda  Rood.  A  Miss  Hannah  Dean, 
who  came  from  Willimantic,  was  also  included  in  the  class. 

The  interest  increased,  and  additions  were  made  until,  in  1839,  it 
was  deemed  best  to  erect  a  house  for  public  worship  in  this  locality. 
This  house  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  the  early  part  of  1840, 
Rev.  D.  Dorchester  preaching  the  sermon. 

During-  the  pastorate  of  D.  M.  Rogers  it  was  lengthened  to  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  increasing  audience. 


REV.  JOHN  OLDHAM. 


MRS.  JOHN  OLDHAM. 


About  1855  the  society  began  to  decline  in  numbers,  until  in  the 
autumn  of  1861  public  Sabbath  services  were  discontinued  and  the 
chapel  sold.  Great  was  the  sorrow  of  the  older  members  as  they  left 
for  the  last  time  their  religious  home,  but  Methodism  was  not  extin- 
guished by  this  event. 

The  present  church  was  begun  in  1863  and  completed  in  1864, 
the  dedication  services  being  held  April  7,  1864,  Rev.  J.  Ellis  Hawkins, 
who  had  just  been  appointed  there,  preaching  the  sermon  from 
I.  Peter,  i:i3_ 

Mr.  Hawkins'  pastorate  was  remarkable  for  a  revival  which  con- 
tinued with  more  or  less  effectiveness  throughout  the  entire  three 
years  of  his  pastoral  term  there. 

A  parsonage  was  built  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  Montgomery,  1880-81. 

Revivals  occurred  during  the  pastorates  of  S.  Lamberton,  R. 
crtson,  M.  P.  Alderman,  Charles  Morse,  Sanford  Benton,  L.  Dag- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


107 


gett,  Jr.,  William  Turkington,  W.  O.  Cady,  J.  E.  Hawkins,  F.  C. 
Baker  and  E.  Blake. 

Of  later  years  this  church  has  been  greatly  embarrassed  by  the 
tendency  of  Methodists  in  that  locality  to  attend  the  larger  churches 
which  are  located  near  the  centre  of  the  city. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
J.  F.  Sheffield,  but  was  discontinued  about  two  years  later. 

This  church  was  known  as  "Greenville"  until  within  a  few  years, 
the  present  name  being  North  Main  Street  Church. 

Those  who  have  the  interests  of  this  church  at  heart  are  rinding 
much  cause  for  consolation  in  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Asenath  Wilbur,  an 
aged  and  respected  member  of  many  years'  standing,  has  made  her 
will,  bequeathing  to  this  church  all  her  property  at  death.  This  will 
be  a  fine  acquisition  of  property,  and  will  furnish  what  is  now  regarded 
as  an  excellent  site  for  a  new  church  edifice. 


PASTORS. 


1842. 

1843- 
1845. 
1846. 
1847- 

1848-49. 
1850.  ' 
1851. 
1852. 

1853- 

1854.' 

1855-56. 

1857- 

1858. 

1859-60. 

1861. 

1862-63. 

1864-66. 


S.  Lamberton 
R.  Albiston 

D.  M.  Rogers 
S.  Benton 

S.  Benton 
I.  M.  Bidwell 
L.  Daggett 

A.  Palmer 

M.  P.  Alderman 
Charles  Morse 

B.  M.  Walker 
W.  O.  Cady 
\V.  Turkington 
J.  Pack 

N.  G.  Lippitt 
F.  Upham 

E.  B.  Bradford 
E.  F.  Clark 

J.  E.  Hawkins 


J.  \J\J  /      WW» 

V  V   lllO^JL 

1870-71. 

A.  W.  Mills 

1872. 

D.  L.  Brown 

1873-74. 

G.  D.  B.  Stoddard 

1875-76. 

Z.  S.  Haynes 

1877. 

William  Kirkby 

1878-79. 

L.  D.  Bentley 

1  880-8  1. 

H.  Montgomery 

1882-83. 

F.  C.  Baker 

1884-85. 

C.  S.  Davis 

1886-87. 

E.  F.  Smith 

1888. 

G.  H.  Lamson 

1889. 

G.  W.  Wright 

1890-91. 

S.  V.  B.  Cross 

1892. 

J.  F.  Sheffield 

1893-94. 

H.  E.  Murkett 

1895. 

William   Turkington 

1896. 

S.  J.  Rook 

1807. 

J.  Olclham 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Stewards—  George  Wheeler,  George  Matthews,  Joseph  C.  Marole, 
Charles  I.  Spaulding,  James  R.  D.  Oldham,  Samuel  Crowe  (R.  S.), 
Sterling  Nelson. 

Trustees — Paul  B.  Greene,  Charles  I.  Spaulding,  John  Gray,  Cal- 
vin Miner,  .Sterling  Nelson,  George  Wheeler,  George  Matthews. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  R.  D.  Oldham ;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Mary  Morrowe. 


M.  K.  CHURCH,  NORWICH  TOWN,  CONN. 
The  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  Nor- 
wich at  the  house  of  Airs.  Thankful  Pierce,  June  25,  1790.     She  heard 
this  distinguished  pioneer  of  Methodism  at  Tolland,  Conn.,  and  was 


NORWICH  TOWN  CHURCH. 


so  much  affected  by  his  "spirit  and  doctrine"  that  she  invited  him  to 
preach  in  Norwich.     On  the  following  day  Mr.  Lee  preached  at  the 


REV.  J.  S.   THOMAS. 


MRS.   J.    S.    THOMAS. 


instance  of  Captain  James  Hyde  in  the  "Old  Academy,"  which  was 
situated  at  the  foot  of  Bean  Hill. 

Bishop  Asbury  preached  also  in  the  "Old  Academy"  on  Monday, 
at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  July  20,  1795,  having  come  from  the 
New  London  Conference  on  the  same  day.  In  1796  a  small  class  was 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


109 


formed  in  Norwich  North,  comprising  some  of  the  best  inhabitants 
of  the  town.  Among  its  earliest  members  we  find  the  names  of  Captain 
James  Hyde,  father  of  the  late  Rev.  Edward  Hyde;  Solomon  Williams, 
Richard  Lamb,  "Father  Lathrop,"  Mrs.  Carew  and  her  amiable  daugh- 


F.    H.    BUSHNELL, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


FLORENCE  LJLLIBRIDGE, 
Junior  League  President. 


ter  Sarah,  Mrs.  Lamb  and  Miss  Sarah  Clement  of  precious  memory. 
There  being  no  class  at  the  Landing,  Mrs.  Thankful  Pierce  also  united 
with  this  class. 

They  were  accustomed  to  meet  for  worship  in  the  "Old  Academy," 
for  many  years,  though  its  accommodations  were  rather  plain.  It  was 
furnished  with  "rough  seats."  Mr.  Solomon  Williams  was  for  many 
years  class  leader.  He  was  industrious,  consistent  and  beloved.  Not 
far  from  1823  he  assisted  in  revolutionizing  the  "Old  Academy,"  re- 
moving the  stage,  "rough  seats,"  desks,  etc.,  erecting  a  pulpit  on  the 
centre  of  the  back  side  and  a  flight  of  stairs  in  front  on  the  outside. 

The  "Norwich  North"  Society  has  never  lost  its  organization, 
though  experiencing  great  changes,  and  is  therefore  the  parent  of  all 
the  Methodist  churches  in  the  city.  It  has  never  had  a  large  mem- 
bership, although  favored  with  many  revivals  and  contributing  much 
to  the  numbers  and  success  of  other  churches. 

During  the  pastorates  of  Rev.  Caleb  D.  Rogers  and  Leonard  Grif- 
fing  the  church  planned  the  erection  of  a  sanctuary  which  was  dedi- 
cated in  the  summer  of  1831,  when  an  able  sermon  was" preached  by 
Rev.  Fitch  Reed  of  the  New  York  Conference.  Prominent  in  this 
work  were  Joshua  Maples,  Aaron  Armstrong  and  Joseph  T.  Manning, 
also  Erastus  Wentworth,  Esq.,  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Erastus  Went- 
worth. 


no 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Although  connected  with  the  Congregational  Church,  he  aided 
in  every  way  the  new  enterprise.  A  revival  soon  followed,  when  his 
honored  son  became  a  subject  of  divine  grace  and  richly  rewarded  his 
religious  Catholicity. 

A  good  authority  states:  Norwich  North  Church  "has  even  been 
blessed  with  devoted  men  and  women,  who,  loving  its  doctrine  and 
discipline,  have  sought  and  enjoyed  the  life  and  power  of  Godliness." 
Also:  "That  the  pastorates  of  Revs.  Pardon  T.  Kenney  and  Sanford 
Benton  were  highly  appreciated,  and  Revs.  George  M.  Carpenter, 
Frank  W.  Bill  and  Walter  Ela  witnessed  revival  prosperity." 

Rev.  Norris  G.  Lippitt  served  this  church,  although  a  local  min- 
ister, several  terms,  numbering  in  all  nearly  twelve  years.  Under  his 
ministry  in  1857  a  gracious  revival  was  enjoyed,  in  which  sixty  souls 
professed  conversion. 

Rev.  H.  N.  Brown,  another  local  minister,  supplied  the  church 
for  five  years  with  great  acceptance,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of 
many  sinners  and  the  sanctification  of  many  believers. 

In  1879,  under  Rev.  N.  G.  Lippitt's  administration,  the  church 
building  was  repaired  and  improved  at  a  cost  of  $1,800. 


1842-44. 

1845- 
1846. 

.'847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851-52. 

1853-54. 

1855-57. 

1858. 

1859-62. 

1863-64. 

1865-66. 

1866-67. 

1868. 

1869-70. 


PASTORS. 

Daniel  Dorchester  1871. 

Lawton  Cady  1872-73. 

Abel  Gardner  1874-76. 

George  M.  Carpenter  1877-78. 

Frank  W.  Bill  1879-80. 

Erastus  Benton  1881-82. 

Jno.  Cooper  1883. 
Norris  G.  Lippitt 

John  Whear  1884-85. 

Norris  G.  Lippitt  1886-87. 

William  Turkington  1888-92. 

WTalter  Ela  1893-94. 

Norris  G.  Lippitt  1895. 

L.  W.  Blood  1896-97. 
Robert  Clark 


N.  G.  Lippitt 
L.  D.  Bentley 
John  Love  joy 
William  Penn  Hyde 
N.  G.  Lippitt 
George  W.  Brewster 
A.  C.  Kurd  (Congrega- 

tionalist) 
F.  C.  Baker 
E.  F.  Smith 
H.  N.  Brown 
J.  O.  Dodge 
L.  H.  Massey 
J.  S.  Thomas 


PRESENT    OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — R.  P.  Rose,  Peter  Wilson,  F.  H.  Bushnell,  Frank  Rose, 
Louis  Frazier,  O.  T.  Beers,  James  Lathrop,  Avery  Miller. 

Stczvards — O.  T.  Beers,  W.  H.  Bushnell,  Louis  Frazier,  Avery 
Miller,  Peter  Wilson,  B.  F.  Xye,  Oliver  Tracey,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Rose, 
F.  H.  Bushnell. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  F.  H.  Bushnell;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Mrs.  F.  H.  Bushnell;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Leonora 
Miller;  Librarian,  Frank  Lillibridge. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Ill 


Teachers — Rev.  J.  S.  Thomas,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Thomas,  F.  H.  Bushnell, 
Mrs.  F.  H.  Bushnell,  Edith  L.  Thomas,  Clara  Huntington. 
Junior  League — President,  Edith  L.  Thomas. 


TRINITY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORWICH,  CONN. 

Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  was 
organized  in  April,  1895,  it  being  formed  by  the  consolidation  of  three 
previously  existing  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  which  had  been 


REV.  J.  L.  P1TNER,   D.   D. 


MRS.  J.  :L.  PITNER. 


known  as  Sachem  Street,  East  Main  Street  and  Central.     The  histon' 
of  each  of  these  former  churches  is  herewith  presented. 


I.  SACHEM  STREET  CHURCH. 

After  the  church  at  the  Landing  was  washed  away  by  the  Hood 
February  23,  1824,  a  period  of  depression  followed,  in  which  the  Meth- 
odist cause  seemed  to  be  hopelessly  weak.  Without  a  church  building 
the  Methodists  were  dependent  on  the  hospitality  of  other  churches, 
and  to  the  lasting  credit  of  all,  Baptists,  Universalists,  Congregation- 
alists  and  Episcopalians  alike  tendered  them  the  use  of  their  houses  of 
worship.  A  resolution  introduced  by  Colonel  Elisha  Tracy  of  this  city 
to  the  Legislature,  authorizing  the  Governor  to  issue  a  proclamation 
to  all  the  churches  of  Connecticut  of  every  denomination,  to  take  a 
contribution  on  a  specified  Sabbath  for  the  benefit  of  the  Methodists 
of  Norwich  Landing,  was  carried  bv  both  Houses,  and  Governor  Wol- 


112 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


cott  issued  the  proclamation.  This  netted  only  $463.32.  Promise  of 
future  aid  being  given,  provided  the  new  church  could  be  erected  at 
the  Falls,  it  was  decided  to  build  in  that  vicinity,  where  a  class  had 
been  organized  since  1813.  The  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated 
June  10.  1825.  by  Kev.  J.  A.  Merrill,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district. 


SACHEM  STREET  CHURCH. 


The  society  had  become  reduced  to  forty-five,  but  from  this  time  it 
rapidly  increased  until  in  about  a  year  it  reported  one  hundred  and 
eighty-three  members. 

The  last  house  of  worship  was  purchased  from  a  Congregational 
society  which  felt  compelled  to  evacuate  this  territory,  the  tranfer  being 
made  in  1853,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  Leonard.  The 
amount  paid  was  $2,765.66,  and  the  site  and  edifice  thus  secured  was 
considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  city  at  the  time.  It  was  opened  with 
a  sermon  by  Bishop  Baker  from  Psalms  xlviii:  12,  13. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Conant,  pastor  in  1862-63,  succeeded  in  clearing  en- 
tirely the  debt  which  had  remained  on  the  property  till  that  time. 

Revivals  are  reported  during  the  pastorates  of  William  Livesey, 
A.  Latham.  F.  Fisk,  B.  M.  Walker,  D.  H.  Ela  and  E.  F.  Clark. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  C.  King  great  improvements  were 
made,  including  the  addition  of  a  new  pulpit  set,  Gothic  windows  and 
a  parsonage.  A  new  reed  organ  of  excellent  tone  was  added,  and 
the  Epworth  League  was  organized  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  M. 
Taber. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


This  church  was  known  as  "Falls,"  1837-53;  Norwich  Centre. 
1853-55;  Sachem  Street,  in  1855;  Norwich  Centre  resumed  in  1856; 
Sachem  Street  resumed  in  1859. 

This  church  had  an  excellent  line  of  pastors  and  was  always  found 
by  them  a  pleasant  place  in  which  to  labor. 


1825. 
1826. 
1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830. 

1831-32. 
1833. 

1834- 

1835- 

1836-37- 

1838. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1 842-43. 


Elias  Marble 
R.  Ransom 
C.  D.  Rogers 
E.  Marble 
A.  Taylor 
N.  S.  Spaulding 
G.  Sutherland 
A.  Taylor 
R.  Ransom 
L.    B.    Griffing 

C.  D.  Rogers 
L.  B.  Griffing 
Peter  Sabin 

J.  Stoddard 
N.  Day 

D.  N.  Bentley 
G.  May 

William  Livesey 
A.  C.  Wheat 

D.  N.  Bentley 
C.  D.  Rogers 

E.  Blake 
A.  Latham 

W.  H.  Richards 


PASTORS. 

1844. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 

1849. 

1850-51. 

1852-53- 
1854-55- 
1856. 

1857-59- 

1 860-6 1. 

1862-63. 

1864-66. 

1867-68. 

1869-70. 

1871. 

1872-74. 

1875-77- 

1878. 

1879-81. 

1882-84. 

1885-87. 

1888-90. 

1891-93. 

1894. 


L.  Leffingwell 

F.  Fisk 
S.  Dean 
J.  Mather 

B.  M.  Walker 
W.  Leonard 
T.  Ely 
J.  M.  Worcester 

D.  H.  Ela 
J.  Livesey 

H.  W.  Conant 

E.  F.  Clark 

G.  S.  Alexander 
T.  M.  House 
W.  H.  Stetson 
N.  G.  Lippitt 
W.  A.  Luce 

E.  M.  Dunham 
J.  H.  James 

G.  C.  King 
A.  J.  Coultas 
J.  M.  Taber 
G.  A.  Grant 

F.  L.  Streeter 


II.     EAST  MAIN  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH. 


On  June  25,  1790,  Jesse  Lee  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon 
in  Norwich  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Thankful  Pierce,  the  first  Methodist 
convert  in  Norwich,  which  house  is  still  standing  on  West  Main  street, 
near  Thames  street. 

In  1798  a  small  class  was  formed  by  John  Beatty,  a  local  preacher 
from  Ireland,  and  his  wife,  in  their  house,  situated  near  the  present 
Broadway  Church. 

Early  in  1816  David  N.  Bentley  contracted  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  30  by  36  feet  on  the  north  side  of  the  wharf  bridge,  which  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Blake,  whose  text  was  Psalms  Ixxviii:  20. 
This  church  was  carried  away  by  the  great  flood  of  Feb.  13,  1824. 

This  society  now  joined  the  Falls  Society  in  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship  in  that  locality,  which  for  a  time  appears  to  have 


114  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

satisfied  the  members  at  the  Landing,  but  by  1833  the  distance  was 
felt  to  be  a  severe  tax  on  their  convenience  and  prosperity,  in  view 
of  which  fact  action  was  taken  at  a  meeting  of  the  "Norwich  City 
Station"  (under  which  name  the  society  at  the  Landing  was  now 
re-established  by  permission  of  the  Conference),  June  23,  1834,  author- 
izing individuals  to  procure  a  lot  and  contract  for  a  house  thereon;  but 
to  do  so  in  their  individual  capacity  that  the  society,  as  such,  be  not 
involved  in  the  contract.  The  house  thus  arranged  for  was  built  by 
Shepard  &  Rogers,  by  contract  of  Rev.  D.  N.  Bentley,  Jesse  Fuller 


EAST  MAIN  STREET  CHURCH. 

and  Andrew  Clark,  and  was  44  1-2  by  60  feet,  with  a  basement  and 
steeple,  and  cost  $3,200.  This  house  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Dr.  Fisk, 
his  text  being  Psalms  xciii:  5.  The  deed  of  the  property  was  retained 
by  Rev.  D.  X.  Bentley  and  Jesse  Fuller  until  July  i,  1844,  when  the 
pecuniary  responsibility  was  assumed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  ap- 
pointed by  the  Quarterly  Conference. 

In  1839  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  Green- 
ville, and  in  1854  another  one  on  West  Main  street  by  members  going 
from  this  church.  Thus,  with  four  churches  within  the  city  limits,  it 
was  long  felt  by  many  that  with  such  a  limited  constituency  the  moral 
force  of  the  denomination  was  diminished  and  the  financial  burdens 
largely  augmented. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  J.  Haynes,  1866-69,  tne  church 
was  remodelled,  a  steeple  and  front,  entirely  new,  being  added.  A 
pipe  organ  was  added  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Newhall. 

The  Young  People's  Christian  League  was  organized  during  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


pastorate  of  Rev.  George  H.  Bates,  1888-90.  This  became  later  Chap- 
ter 694  of  the  Epworth  League.  This  church  was  called  "Norwich 
South,"  1834-37;  "Landing,"  1837-55;  "East  Main  Street,"  1855-58; 
•'Main  Street,"  1853,  and  "East  Main  Street,"  1870-95. 


1834- 

1835-36. 

1837- 

1838. 

1839-40. 

1841-42. 

1843-44. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 

1849-50. 

1851-52. 


1855- 

1856-57- 

1858. 

1859-60. 

1861. 


D.  N.  Bentley 
G.  May 
W.  Livesey 
A.  U.  Swinerton 

D.  N.  Bentley 
G.  F.  Pool 

S.  Benton 
R.  Livesey 

F.  Gavitt 
J.  Howson 
J.  Lovejoy 

G.  M.  Carpenter 
J.  D.  Butler 

M.  Chase 
G.  W.  Brewster 
J.  B.  Gould 
F.  Upham 

E.  B.  Bradford 


PASTORS. 

1862-63. 

1864-65. 

1866. 

1866-69. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872-73. 

1874. 

1875- 

1876. 

1877-78. 

1879-81. 

1882-84. 

1885-87. 

1888-90. 

1891-93. 

1894. 


E.  F.  Clark 
H.  W.  Conant 
J.  D.  Weeks 

E.  J.  Haynes 

F.  H.  Newhall 
A.  P.  Palmer 
A.  Anderson 
S.  O.  Benton 
William  Kellogg 

G.  N.  Kellogg 
G.  A.  Morse 
E.  M.  Taylor 
C.  W.  Holden 
T.  Simms 

G.  H.  Bates 
J.  H.  Allen 
W.  I.  Ward 


COSTELLO  LIPPITT, 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


ROBERT  P.  FERGUSON, 
Epworth    League   President. 


III.     THE  CENTRAL  CHURCH. 

This  church  found  its  origin  in  the  summer  of  1854,  when  some 
if  the  brethren  connected  with  the  East  Main  Street   Church,  then 


n6  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  James  D.  Butler,  obtained  the  consent 
of  said  church  and  pastor  to  procure  a  place  to  hold  services  in  the 
west  portion  of  the  city. 

A  large  room  on  Central  Wharf  was  accordingly  secured,  fitted 
up,  and  was  dedicated  as  a  temporary  place  of  worship  September  26, 
1854,  Rev.  Robert  M.  Hatfield  preaching  the  sermon.  This  project 
was  begun  in  response  to  the  desires  of  some  for  a"  free  seated  place 
of  worship  in  the  city,  and  also  for  a  separate  church  interest  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river.  This  movement  was  formally  endorsed  by  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  the  East  Main  Street  Church  September  29, 
1854,  and  Messrs.  Alvan  C.  Currier,  Ulysses  S.  Gardner,  John  M. 
Brewer,  David  H.  Seaman,  Henry  W.  Leach  and  William  B.  Lewis 
were  appointed  to  act  as  stewards  of  the  thus  newly  created  church. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Official  Board  August  31,  1857,  action  was 


CENTRAL  CHURCH. 


taken  authorizing  the  purchase  of  a  lot  on  the  south  side  of  Main 
street,  then  belonging  to  the  Main  Street  Congregational  Church. 
Upon  this  lot  a  new  church  building  was  erected,  although  serious 
reverses  threatened  its  abandonment  when  only  half  done.  However, 
a  timely  donation  from  Rev.  David  N.  Bentley  and  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Betsey  Bentley,  who  each  gave  one  thousand  dollars,  and  the  fact  that 
Mr.  Bentley  supplied  the  pulpit  for  one  year  free  of  charge,  relieved  the 
distress,  and  the  new  church  was  dedicated  August  3,  1859,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Robert  Parsons,  the  sermon  being  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ray- 
mond, then  of  Wilbraham. 

A  heavy  debt  remained  upon  the  property  until  1866,  when  by  a 
mighty  effort  it  was  totally  cleared. 

A  parsonage  was  built  on  Thames  street  during  the  pastorate  of 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


117 


Rev.  M.  P.  Alderman,  1867-68,  and  the  free  seat  system  gave  way  to 
pew  rentals  by  consent  of  the  original  donors  of  the  property  at  that 
time. 

A  pipe  organ  was  added  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  Mont- 
gomery, 1877-79.  The  lighting  facilities  were  greatly  improved  by 
addition  of  a  large  centre  chandelier  in  the  auditorium  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.,  J.  Hollingshead,  1886-88.  This  church  was  always 
noted  for  the  spiritual  life  manifest  in  its  associations,  but  special 
results  were  manifest  during  the  pastorates  of  C.  H.  Payne,  M.  P. 
Alderman,  M.  Howard,  H.  Montgomery,  E.  Tinker  and  O.  W.  Scott. 

A  Church  Lyceum  for  the  special  literary  improvement  of  the 
young  people  was  organized  and  maintained  with  much  interest  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  L.  Hayward,  and  later  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  O.  W.  Scott  this  was  reorganized  as  Chapter  6974  of  the 
Epworth  League.  During  Mr.  Scott's  pastorate  the  parsonage  on 
another  street,  now  in  use  by  Trinity  Church,  was  purchased. 

This  church  was  known  as  "Bethel"  in  1854;  "West  Main  Street," 
8;  "Free,"  1858-68,  and  "Central"  after  1868. 


1854. 

1854-55- 
1855. 
1856-57. 

1858. 

18^9-60. 

1861-62. 

1863^65. 

(866. 
1867-68. 
1869-70. 

L  M.  Bidwell 
C.  R.  Wilkins 
C.  H.  Pavne 
L.  D.  Bentley 
F.  Gavitt 
R.  Parsons 
C.  Banning 
N.  G.  Lippitt 

Barter 
M.  P.  Alderman 
E.  McChesney 

PASTORS. 

1871. 

1872-73. 

1874-76. 

1877-79. 

1880. 

1881-83. 

1884-85. 

1886-88. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

1893-94. 


W.  T.  Worth 
W.  V.  Morrison 
M.  Howard 
H.  Montgomery 
E.  F.  Jones 

E.  Tinker 

F.  K.  Stratton 
J.  Hollingshead 
F.  L.  Hayward 
O.  W.  Scott 

A.  W.  Kingsley 


TRINITY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORWICH,  CONN. 

The  consolidation  of  the  three  churches  whose  history  has  thus 
been  outlined  was  effected  in  April,  1895,  under  the  administration  of 

E.  Tirrell,  Presiding  Elder,  to  whose  efforts  is  largely  due  this  event, 
he  being  strongly  seconded  in  the  matter  by  the  three  pastors,  viz., 

F.  L.  Streeter,  W.  I.  Ward  and  A.  W.  Kingsley.     The  advocates  of 
consolidation  held  that  by  a  union  and  concentration  of  forces  into  one 
organization  a  strong  church  might  be  developed,  which  would  stand 
as  a  tower  of  strength  in  extending  the  influence  of  Methodism  in  this 
community.     On  the  other  hand,  its  opponents  held  it  to  be  a  move- 


ng  SOl'l'ENIR  HISTORY. 

ment  in  the  wrong  direction,  destined  to  contract  the  general  influence 
and  power  of  Methodism  in  the  vicinity. 

The  opposition  to  this  movement  prevented  its  success  in  1891, 
but  gradually  lost  strength  until  early  in  1895,  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ences severally  and  jointly  approved  a  plan  of  union  upon  which  they 
based  a  request  to  Bishop  John  M.  Walden,  the  Presiding  Bishop,  to 
consolidate  by  Episcopal  authority  the  three  named  churches  into  one 
church,  to  be  served  by  one  pastor.  This  request  was  granted  at  the 
Conference  session  held  in  April  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  Rev.  John 
L.  Pitner  was  appointed  to  fill  this  important  position.  The  former 
Central  Church  property  being  the  best  suited  for  the  use  of  the 
united  church,  it  was  so  appropriated.  The  former  East  Main  Street 
Church  was  sold,  and  has  been  remodelled,  and  is  now  used  for  stores 
and  club  rooms  by  the  owner.  It  was  with  much  sadness  the  former 
members  of  this  church  parted  with  their  house  of  worship,  but  the 
sacrifice  was  made  by  them  with  great  unanimity  in  the  belief  that  it 
would  result  in  the  highest  good  ultimately.  The  pipe  organ  in  the 
Central  Church  was  sold,  and  the  organ  formerly  used  by  East  Main 
Street  Church  was  substituted  early  in  the  year. 

The  Epworth  League  Chapters  were  early  united,  and  form  what 
continues  as  Chapter  694. 

The  pulpit  furniture  from  the  East  Main  Street  Church  was  placed 
in  the  vestry  of  the  church,  and  the  church  has  been  improved  by  new 
furnaces  and  back  extensions  to  the  pews. 

The  benevolent  collections  show  a  marked  increase  over  the  com- 
bined collections  of  the  former  three  churches. 

Whether  or  not  this  church  is  to  become  the  strong  and  influential 
body  which  lived  in  the  minds  of  its  founders  will  rest  upon  the  faith- 
fulness and  loyalty  of  its  members  and  future  developments,  to  which 
may  God  lend  the  guiding  hand  of  wisdom. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Pastor—  Rev.  John  L.  Pitner,  Ph.  D. 

Local  Preachers — Albert  F.  Park,  Irving  V.  Cobleigh,  Clinton  E. 
Bromley  and  Robert  E.  Harned. 

Class  Leaders — Henry  Silcox  and  Samuel  Ferguson. 

Trustees — Costello  Lippitt,  John  C.  Morgan,  C.  L.  Harwood, 
.  H.  Allen,  Dr.  J.  H.  Allen,  H.  B.  Porter,  C.  E.  Bromley,  G.  A. 
Lewis  and  A.  S.  Barbour. 

Stewards— F.  H.  Allen,  H.  B.  Porter,  C.  L.  Hopkins  (R.  S.), 
O.  H.  Bennett,  D.  H.  Purvis,  C.  L.  Harwood,  J.  M.  Young,  A.  Tro- 
land,  J.  F.  Hewlett  (D.  S.),  J.  Holden,  N.  V.  Porter  and  J.  H.  Harned. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


119 


Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Costello  Lippitt;  Secretary. 
James  M.  Parkinson. 

Eptvorth  League — President,  Robert  P.  Ferguson;  Secretary. 
James  M.  Parkinson. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HOCKANUM,  CONN. 

The  commencement  of  the  meetings  of  the  Methodists  were  held 
about  1820  at  the  old  brick  schoolhouse  on  the  old  road,  now  called 
High  street,  just  opposite  Louis  Dush's  house,  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  from  where  the  church 
now  stands.  Preachers  came  from 
Hartford,  among  whom  were 
Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Rogers,  Geo. 
May,  E.  Chapin  and  others;  when 
these  were  not  here  the  place  was 
supplied  by  one  Mr.  Baker,  a  li- 
censed exhorter,  who  lived  on  Wei- 
don  lane,  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  A 
society  was  soon  formed,  composed 
of  people  from  East  Hartford,  Wil- 
low Brook,  Silver  Lane,  Glaston- 
bury,  Pratt's  Ferry  (then  called). 
The  names  of  some  of  those  who 
were  converted  and  joined  the  soci- 
ety were:  Elihu  Risley  and  wife, 
Pardon  Risley  and  wife,  Franklin 
Pebbles  and  wife,  Emeline  Ris- 
ley, Emily  Porter,  Elizabeth 
Goodman,  Mrs.  Ormon  Roberts, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Lester,  Mr.  Eli  Wright  and  wife,  Mrs.  Ault,  also  Abner 
Hills,  Horace  Cheeney,  Mr.  Abel  Clark,  Ralph  Hills  and  wife,  Roderic 
Fowler  and  many  others  that  I  cannot  now  recall.  Baptisms  by  im- 
mersion were  then  performed  in  the  stream  of  water  near  the  school- 
house  at  flood  tide;  many  of  the  candidates  were  baptized  by  Rev. 
George  May.  About  1824  they  began  to  talk  of  building  a  church, 
and  most  of  the  people  favored  it,  and  many  who  professed  no  religion 
were  friendly  to  the  project.  Those  who  could  not  give  their 
money  turned  out  with  their  teams  and  worked  heartily  to  see  the 
church  built.  It  was  finished  and  dedicated  by  Rev.  Heman  Bangs 
in  1838.  Then  began  revivals;  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  often  preached,  and 
was  succeeded  by  other  preachers;  the  names  of  some  of  them  were  as 
follows:  Mr.  Guile,  Father  Walker,  Mr.  Pearce  and  many  others,  all 
of  whom  were  godly  men.  During  those  times  there  were  powerful 


THE  HOCKAXUM  CHURCH. 


120 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


revivals,  in  which  large  numbers  of  useful  men  and  women  were 
brought  in,  such  men  as  Epaphrus  Roberts,  Ira  Hills,  James  Case, 
Toel  Hills,  Ellsworth  Brewer,  Edwin  Brewer,  Miss  Sarah  Jones,  the 
Misses  Lemira  and  Adeline  Porter  and  many  more;  among  the  num- 
ber of  men  who  came  later  was  one  Henry  Wright,  a  very  spiritual 
man  who  seemed  at  times  to  be  almost  inspired.  At  one  time  during  the 
morning  service  he  suddenly  left  the  church  and  walked  nearly  a  mile 
to  a  house  where  there  were  four  men  seated  at  a  table  playing  cards ; 
he  walked  to  the  door  and  exclaimed:  "The  Day  of  Judgment  is 
coming!"  then  came  back  and  took  his  seat  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened. Some  of  those  men  were  so  wrought  upon  that  they  after- 
wards became  converted.  This  was  related  to  me  by  one  of  the  men 
who  was  seated  at  the  table.  At  other  times  Mr.  Wright  would  rise 

suddenly  and  utter  a  few 
burning  words,  the  preacher 
would  stop  his  discourse  for  a 
moment  or  two,  then  proceed 
without  being  disturbed  in  the 
least.  The  Methodists  at  that 
time  suffered  persecution  and 
ridicule,  being  looked  upon  as 
fanatics.  At  one  time  a  man 
of  wealth  and  influence,  who 
lived  in  Glastonbury,  was  bit- 
terly opposed  to  the  Metho- 
dists, but  was  prevailed  upon 
to  attend  a  camp-meeting  that 
was  in  session  in  the  town ;  so  he  thought  he  would  harness  his  horse 
and  go  out  for  an  hour  or  so.  It  happened  that  the  preacher  who  was 
preaching  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  sons  of  thunder  and  was  in  the 
spirit,  and  preaching  to  the  unconverted.  This  man  who  was  opposed 
to  the  Methodists  sat  and  listened  attentively,  and  when  the  sermon 
was  concluded  exclaimed:  "Oh!  Oh!  how  mistaken  I  have  been  all 
my  life  with  regard  to  these  people;  if  there  is  a  class  of  people  that 
have  got  the  true  power  and  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  they  are  the  ones." 
But  notwithstanding  all  the  persecution  and  ridicule,  the  Methodists 
grew  and  prospered.  They  were  plain  in  dress  and  manners,  honest 
and  sincere.  Many  of  them  were  original,  keen  and  witty.  I  can 
remember  many  of  their  sayings  and  doings.  I  remember  that  once 
in  an  evening  meeting  an  old  sister  arose  and  said  that  some  one  said 
to  her  that  "you  Methodists  don't  use  good  language."  "We  use  the 
language  of  the  Bible,"  said  she,  "and  that  is  as  high  as  heaven."  An 


THE    HOCKANUM  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


121 


old  brother,  who  used  to  get  very  happy  and  shout,  was  expostulated 
with  by  a  very  cultivated  person  for  being  so  noisy  and  uncouth  in 
church.  The  old  brother  replied  that  it  was  a  great  calamity  to  be 
born  with  velvet  ears,  to  hear  something  soft  and  flute-like. 

There  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Spencer,  who  was  a  great 
worker  and  a  peculiar  character;  he  conducted  meetings  in  Burnside, 
Hockanum,  Manchester  and  other  places.  It  was  said  of  him  that  a 
number  of  societies  and  churches  sprung  out  of  his  untiring  labors; 
he  used  to  exhort  in  groves,  schoolhouses  or  any  place  that  would 
hold  a  congregation.  He  was  conducting  a  meeting  once  in  a  grove 
in  Hockanum,  and  some  young  men  thought  that  they  would  go  to 
make  sport,  but  when  they  arrived  at  the  meeting  Father  Spencer 


JAMES    A.    WOOD, 
PASTOR. 


REV.  JAMES  A.  WOOD. 


MRS.  JAMES  A.  WOOD. 


was  at  prayer.  One  of  them  said  to  me  afterwards  that  there  was 'such 
power  in  that  prayer  that  it  totally  disarmed  them,  for  he  was  talking 
with  God.  It  devolved  upon  Father  Spencer  when  there  had  been 
preaching  to  take  up  the  collection,  usually  with  his  hat,  which 
was  rather  a  poor  one.  So  some  young  men  thought  they  would  vex 
the  old  gentleman  by  throwing  a  quantity  of  those  old  copper  cents 
into  the  hat,  and  when  the  hat  came  around  they  threw  forty  of  them 
in  one  lump,  when  down  came  the  hat  and  out  came  the  crown;  but 
the  old  gentleman  instead  of  being  vexed,  stooped  down  to  gather  it 
up  exclaiming  "Bless  the  Lord;  what  liberal  young  men."  I  do  not 
relate  these  sayings  to  create  merriment,  but  simply  to  show  the 
characteristics  of  those  people  and  times. 

A  person  remarked  to  me  quite  a  number  of  years  ago  that  this 
church  would  never  run  out;  it  might  run  low,   but  would  always 


122 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


J.    P.   KENNEY, 


remain,  for  it  is  consecrated  ground,  watered  by  the  prayers  and  tears- 
of  those  old  saints.  It  is  painful  to  hear  those  old  times  or  people 
spoken  of  lightly,  as  we  are  indebted  to  them  for  our  present  prosper- 
ity. Father  May  used  to  lead  the  singing,  which  was  congregational,  a 
few  singers  sat  in  front  pews  to  control  the  rest;  many  of  the  tunes 

were  in  the  minor  key;  such  tunes  as 
Florida,  North  Salem,  Xew  Durham, 
would  make  the  people  weep,  while 
Exhortation,  Northfield,  Turner  and 
others  of  like  character,  would  make 
the  eyes  of  the  congregation  sparkle. 
People  would  walk  two  or  three  miles 
to  get  to  those  meetings,  there  was 
v  such  power  and  attraction  in  them. 

^^^          ^^^^^  But  in   later   years   a   great   number 

^^6*7*^1        ^^^       have  joined  the  church.     I  can  do  no 
f '  &"1,  justice  to  the   subject  by  giving  the 

names,  there  were  such  numbers.  I 
can  give  only  a  few  of  the  names  of 
those  who  came  later.  Such  names 
as  Frederic  and  Wealthy  Curtis. 
Lewis  Jones,  William  Jones,  Wil- 
liam Avery,  Roswell  Treat  and  wife,  Andrew  Vibert,  Cyrus  Vibert 
and  others  too  numerous  to  mention.  But  they  have  all  gone  home  to 
their  reward;  both  singers  and  people  have  gone  to  join  in  the  swelling- 
anthems  of  eternity. 

There  was  a  notable  revival  in  1858,  when  Charles  Morse  was 
pastor;  many  were  converted  and  added  to  the  church.  Among  the 
converts  of  this  revival  was  Rev.  B.  F.  Raynor  of  this  Conference,  in 
1 88 1  Walter  P.  Stoddard  was  sent  to  this  charge.  He  conceived  the 
plan  to  remodel  the  church  building;  little  had  been  done  to  it  since 
it  was  first  built  in  1838.  He  set  about  the  task,  and  at  a  cost  of  over 
$3,000  remodeled  the  building,  giving  to  the  people  a  neat,  pretty, 
modern  church. 

E.  J.  Ayers  followed  Mr.  Stoddard;  he  stayed  two  years  and  had 
quite  a  revival;  twenty-eight  joined  the  church  on  probation. 

Under  the  present  pastorate  of  Rev.  James  A.  Wood,  who  is  no\v 
on  his  fifth  year,  the  church  has  enjoyed  an  unusual  degree  of  pros- 
perity. About  $700  has  been  expended  on  improving  the  property. 
The  parsonage  has  been  remodeled  inside  and  an  L  built  on.  In 
1895  the  church  enjoyed  a  great  awakening,  from  which  forty-one 
joined  the  church  on  probation.  In  the  spring  of  1896  a  new  work 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


123 


100°"OV- 

—    \_J1H_ 

J..J/W  /H.. 

1839-41. 

Lozien  Pierce 

I874-75- 

1841-43. 

B.  M.  Walker 

1875-76. 

1845-47. 

Levi  P.  Daggett,  Jr. 

1876-77. 

1847-49. 

John  C.  Goodrich 

1877-80. 

1849-51. 

B.  C.  Phelps 

1880. 

1852-54. 

John  F.  Sheffield 

1854-55- 

Henry  S.  White 

1881-84. 

1855-57- 

S.  W.  Coggshall 

1884-86. 

1857-59- 

Charles  Morse 

1886-87. 

1859-61. 

T.  B.   Gurney 

1887-89. 

1861-62. 

George  W.  Brewster 

1889-90. 

1862-64. 

George  W.  Wooding 

1890-92. 

1864-67. 

John  Cooper 

1892-93. 

1867-70. 

G.  H.  Winchester 

1893-98. 

was  opened  by  Mr.  Wood  in  East  Hartford  Centre,  and  continued 
through  the  year.  So  successful  was  the  project  that  the  Conference 
organized  a  new  society  May  i,  1897. 

PASTORS. 

William  Turkington 
J.  O.  Dodge 
Charles  S.  Morse 
A.  A.  Presbrey 
Merrick  Ransom 
Zadoc  S.  Haynes 
(Died  in  1880) 
Walter  P.  Stoddard 
E.  J.  Ayers 
Denison  L.  Brown 
Virgil  W.  Mattoon 
John  Livesey 
J.  B.  Ackley 
R.  S.  Eldridge 
James  A.  Wood 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — Chauncey  Hollister,  E.  Sumner  Forbes,  Monroe  J. 
Brewer,  Eugene  Burr,  W.  Henry  Waterman,  Frank  A.  Graham,  Geo. 
Ludwig,  Edward  G.  Weldon,  John  P.  Kenney  (R.  S.  and  D.  S.), 
Frank  F.  Hollister. 

Trustees — Chauncey  Hollister,  Monroe  J.  Brewer,  E.  Sumner 
Forbes,  William  H.  Myers,  W.  Henry  Waterman,  John  P.  Kenney. 

Class  Leader — E.  Sumner  Forbes. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  P.  Kenney;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, M.  S.  Brewer;  Secretary,  Edward  G.  Weldon;  Treasurer, 
George  A.  Hollister;  Librarian,  Frank  A.  Graham;  Recorder,  Harriet 
G.  Hollister. 

Epworth  League — President,  John  P.  Kenney;  First  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Alice  Daniels;  Second  Vice  President,  Lizzie  Taylor;  Third  Vice 
President,  Kate  Dunham;  Secretary,  Edward  G.  Weldon;  Treasurer, 
Albert  Kawalsky;  Organist,  Kate  L.  Dunham. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society — President,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Waterman;  Vice 
President,  Mrs.  Lucy  Fox;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Harry  Anderson;  Treas- 
urer, Mrs.  E.  G.  Weldon. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

A  class  was  started  here  in  1891  by  J.  H.  Allen,  then  pastor  of 
Burnside  M.  E.  Church.  A  separate  society  was  organized  by  Eben 
Tirrell.  P.  E..  in  1893.  when  John  S.  Bridgeford  was  pastor  at  Burn- 
side;  and  it  appears  in  the  Conference 
Year  Book  as  Burnside  and  East 
Hartford.  After  this  it  went  down, 
and  all  the  members  joined  the  First 
M.  E.  Church  in  Hartford,  where  Dr. 
E.  L.  Thorpe  was  pastor  at  the  time. 
In  April,  1896,  Rev.  James  A. 
Wood,  then  pastor  at  Hockanum 
M.  E.  Church,  opened  meetings  in 
Raymond  Hall,  and  so  successful  was 
the  undertaking  that  a  new  organiza- 
tion was  completed  by  Rev.  George 
H.  Bates,  P.  E.,  May  i,  1897,  and 
Mr.  Wood  was  appointed  a  supply. 
The  society  has  purchased  a  build- 
ing lot  and  contemplates  a  new 
church  building  in  the  near  future. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Class  Leaders — E.  Sunnier  Forbes  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Clark. 
Stewards— M.  W.  Stillman  (R.  S.),  Mrs.  Dora  J.  Stillman,  Mrs. 
Ellen  Clark,  Joseph  M.  Bosworth. 

Trustees — George  Saunders,  A.  R.  Davie,  Mark  W.  Stillman. 
Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Bosworth. 


GEORGE  SAUNDERS. 
President   Board   Trustees. 


MARK  W.  STILLMAN. 
Recording  Steward. 


MRS.    J.    M.   BOSWORTH, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  OLD  MYSTIC,  CONN. 


John  Richard  Green  in  his  smaller  "History  of  England,"  says, 
in  regard  to  Lollard ry,  that  "It  was  this  want  of  organization,  this 
looseness  and  fluidity  of  the  new  movement  that  made  it  penetrate 
through  every  class  of  society." 
Methodism  was  strong  in  organiza- 
tion, perhaps,  but  it  had  the  latter 
characterization  of  "fluidity"  which 
penetrates.  It  penetrated  Old  Mystic, 
then  called  Mystic,  in  1816.  The  liv- 
ing channels  which  conveyed  the  pen- 
etrative doctrines  of  Methodism  were 
the  Revs.  Ebenezer  Blake  and  Joel 
McKee.  They  preached  in  an  old 
schoolhouse.  Lorenzo  Dow,  that  re- 
ligious comet,  used  occasionally  to 
flash  the  light  of  the  Gospel  upon  this 
village.  He  came  and  went  at  regular 
intervals,  making  his  appointments  a 
twelve-month  ahead,  and  appear- 
ing exactly  at  the  moment  set. 
In  the  year  1824  John  Bennett 
opened  his  house  for  preaching.  He  went  to  Gale's  Ferry,  then  at- 
tached to  Norwich  Circuit,  to  solicit  the  services  of  the  itinerants.  The 
Revs.  Elias  Marble  and  Reuben  Ransom  responded,  and  for  two 
years  visited  and  preached  in  the  village.  A  class  was  formed,  com- 
posed -  of  seven  members.  The  church  received  the  Rev.  Newell 

Spaulding  as  its  first  pastor 
in  1826.  He  lived  and 
preached  in  the  house  of  John 
Bennett  for  a  year.  In  1827 
the  Hyde  family,  the  practical 
owners  of  the  cotton  mills, 
opened  heart  and  home  for 
the  Methodist  preacher  and 
his  doctrines.  This  was  a 
great  event  in  the  history 


OLD  MYSTIC  CHURCH. 


LD  MYSTIC  PARSONAGE. 


both  of  the  Hyde  family  and 
the  church.  A  schoolhouse 
was  again  opened. 

During    the    ministry    of    Mr.     Spaulding    sixty    people    were 
brought  to  Christ,  some  of  them  joining  the  Baptist  and  Congrega- 


126 


SOU  I' EN  I R  HISTORY 


tional  Churches  of  the  village.  The  first  Quarterly  Conference  was 
held  in  1828.  The  Rev.  Edward  Hyde,  a  distant  member  of  the  Hyde 
family,  was  the  Presiding  Elder.  In  1831  the  Rev.  Daniel  Dorchester 


REV.  JOSEPH  COOPER. 


MRS.  JOSEPH  COOPER. 


was  appointed  to  the  Mystic  Circuit,  which  at  that  time  included  Gris- 
wold,  Preston  and  North  Stonington.  No  less  than  70  people  were 
converted  during  his  two  years  of  labor.  In  1833  Mystic  and  Mystic 


HORACE   WILLIAMS, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MRS.   ABBIE  DEWEY, 
2d.  Vice-Pres.  E.  L. 


P» ridge  were  set  apart  as  a  "circuit"  by  themselves.  Under  the  min- 
istry of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Phelps,  which  began  in  1843,  tne  new  cir~ 
cuit  greatly  prospered.  Nearly  70  were  converted,  and  every  part  of 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


127 


the  work  was  strengthened.  From  this  revival  two  young  men  went 
forth  to  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  viz.,  the  Revs.  James  Gallup  and 
W.  P.  Hyde.  The  first  church  building  that  was  erected  to  shelter  this 
growing  society  was  finished  in  1849  at  tne  vei7  modest  cost  of  $1,800. 
The  Rev.  Daniel  Wise  preached  the  opening  sermons.  One  of  his 
texts,  remembered  to  this  day,  was,  "For  a  day  in  Thy  courts  is  better 
than  a  thousand."  In  1851,  while  the  society  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
grand  revival,  under  the  genial  leadership  of  the  Rev.  William  Turk- 
ington,  this  building  was  burned  to  the  ground.  God's  providences 
are  mysterious,  yet  their  results  always  vindicate  His  goodness.  A 
new  and  better  church  was  erected  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  which 
the  society  occupies  to-day.  In  1859  the  light  flashed  eight  miles 
across  the  country  to  Westerly,  which  reports  for  that  year  a  member- 
ship of  thirty.  In  1863  the  parsonage  was  purchased  and  its  grounds 
laid  out.  General  success  has  attended  this  church  from  its  birth. 
At  its  Jubilee  in  1876  it  was  reported  that  500  people  had  been  con- 
verted since  its  foundation.  Since  then  no  have  been  received  into 
probation.  The  population,  like  all  New  England  villages,  is  in  a  state 
of  transition.  Poles,  Frenchmen  and  Jews  fill  the  mills  and  the  homes 
and  narrow  the  margin  of  the  English-speaking  work.  Faithful  toil  is, 
however,  still  needed  and  still  successful.  The  church  is  living  in  obe- 
dience to  the  words  of  the  poet, 

"Go  labor  on,  spend  and  be  spent 
Our  joy  to  do  the  Master's  will." 


JAMES  A.  DEAN   (Deceased). 


PASTORS. 

1816. 

1824. 

1826. 
1829. 
1830. 
1831. 

1*33. 

1834. 

1836. 

1*37- 

1838. 

1839. 
1841. 
1843- 


Ebenezer  Blake 
Joel  McKee 
Elias  Marble 
Reuben  Ransom 
Newell  S.  Spaulding 
Amos  Binney 
Joseph  Ireson 
Daniel  Dorchester 
Otis  Wild 
Heman  Perry 
John  Standish 
Benjamin  C.  Phelps 
S.   Heath 

Pardon  T.  Kenney 
Freeman  Nutting 
Nathan  Paine 
John  W.  Case 
William  Simmonds 
Lawton  Cadv 


128  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

1844.  Lorenzo  W.  Blood  1867.          John  Lovejoy 

1846.  Marvin  Leffingwell          1869.          John  Cooper 

1847.  John  Cooper  187.?.  Samuel  E.  Evans 

1849.  George  W.  Brewster  1874.  W.  McK.  Bray 

1850.  William  Turkington  1876.  J.  Q.  Adams 
1852.  Levi  Daggett  iS;&.  William  B.  Heath 
1855.  Daniel   Dorchester  1881.  Denison  L.  Brown 
i»56.  John  F.  Sheffield  1883.  Elijah  F.  Smith 
1^58.  Ormando  Brooks  1885.  F.  L.  Hayward 
1859.  Edwin  S.  Stanley  1887.  J.  W.  Presby 
iS(.i.  Caleb  S.  Sanford  1889.  G.  H.  Lamson 
1862  James  A.  Dean,  D.  D.  1891.  W.  S.  Foster 
1863.  C.  A.  Merrill  1893.  John  Pearce 
1865.  S.  A.  Windsor  l&95-  Joseph  Cooper 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Dr.  Francis  Manning,  Horace  Williams,  William  Har- 
ris, Prentice  Williams,  William  Tourgee,  Dr.  Alfred  Chapman,  Martin 
White,  Elijah  Morgan,  Dwight  Gallup. 

Stewards — Dwight  Gallup,  Dr.  Alfred  Chapman,  Dr.  Francis 
Manning,  Horace  Williams,  Elijah  Morgan,  William  Tourgee,  Pren- 
tice Williams  (D.  S.),  Martin  White  (R.  S.),  Eli  Boothman,  George 
Melville,  Benjamin  Lewis. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Horace  O.  Williams;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Mary  Dean;  Secretary,  Louise  Harris;  Treasurer, 
Jane  Dean;  Librarian,  Hugh  Fraser. 

Teachers — Pastor  D.  Gallup,  Mary  Dean,  Abbie  Dewey,  Annie 
Williams,  Annie  Lee,  Lucy  Main,  George  Melville,  Nelly  Robinson, 
Margaret  Boothman. 

Epworth  League — President,  the  Pastor;  First  Vice-President, 
Mary  Dean;  Second  Vice  President,  Abbie  Dewey;  Third  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Lucy  Chapman ;  Fourth  Vice  President,  S.  Annie  Williams ;  Sec- 
retary, Maude  Chapman;  Treasurer,  Margaret  Boothman. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ONECO,  CONN. 

This  church  is  situated  in  the  pleasant  valley  village  of  Oneco, 
town  of  Sterling,  Conn.  In  October,  1886,  Mrs.  Alice  Hayner  came 
to  Oneco  and  organized  a  Sabbath  School  and  a  prayer  meeting,  and 
requested  a  pastor  from  the  Conference.  Previous  to  this  time  occa- 
sional preaching  services  were  held  by  the  Baptist  minister  in  the 
schoolhouse. 

In  1888  Sherman  W.  Thompson,  a  student  at  East  Greenwich 
Academy,  was  appointed  by  Presiding  Elder  Jordan  to  supply  at 
Oneco.  At  this  time  the  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan, 
with  six  members,  namely:  Justus  D.  Hayner,  John  Jerne,  William 


ONECO  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 

Brown,  Mrs.  Alice  Hayner,  Miss  Grace  Langdon,  Miss  Maggie  Ster- 
ling and  Mrs.  Emma  Bates,  who  rendered  efficient  service  as  Record- 
ing Steward. 

Meetings  were  held  in  a  hall  owned  by  Mr.  Orrin  Bates,  who 
kindly  gave  the  use  of  the  hall  free  until  a  church  building  could  be 
erected. 

A  very  pretty  and  convenient  church  building  was  erected  in  1889, 
the  Oneco  Manufacturing  Company  donating  the  land  and  $1,250 
toward?,  the  expenses.  Great  credit  is  due  Mrs.  Alice  May  Hayner  for 
her  untiring  efforts  at  this  time. 

The  church,  during  the  pastorate  of  Henry  Cartledge,  was  dedi- 
cated, free  of  debt. 

While  Joseph  Jackson  was  pastor  (1889)  a  nice,  comfortable  and 
convenient  parsonage  was  built,  and  several  people  were  added  to  the 
church. 

During  the  pastorate  of  E.  F.  Smith  many  improvements  were 
made  on  the  church  property. 


130 


i888. 
1889. 
1889-90. 
1891. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Charles  Smith 
Henry  Cartledge 
Joseph  Jackson 
E.  F.  Smith 


PASTORS. 

1892-93. 
'  1894. 
1895. 


W.  A.  Taylor 
E.  J.  Sampson 
W.  A.  Tavlor 


GEORGE  S.   NORTHRUP, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MRS.   GEORGE   S.    NORTHRUP, 
Treasurer  and  Steward. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Thomas  C.  Peckham,  Silas  A.  Waite,  Justin  Hayner, 
George  S.  Northrup,  Herbert  Gallup,  Adin  Mowry. 

Stewards — Silas  A.  Waite,  George  S.  Xorthrup,  Adin  Mowry, 
Alice  Hurst,  May  G.  Northrup,  Alice  Northrup,  Ada  Marriott. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  S.  Northrup;  Assistant, 
A.din  Mowry;  Organist,  Miss  Bertha  Case;  Secretary,  Miss  Bertha 
Case. 

Teachers— William  A.  Taylor,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Taylor,  Mrs.  May  G. 
Northrup,  Mrs.  Hattie  Kenyon,  Miss  Flora  Dawley,  Mr.  Adin  Mowry. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  PASCOAG,  CONN. 

The  first  recorded  Methodist  preaching  in  Burrillville  was  in  1810, 
by  Elder  Britt,  who  about  that  time  erected  the  old  Douglas  Meeting- 
House.  "Class  meetings,"  says  Horace  Keach,  the  town  historian, 
"had  existed  ever  since  the  town  had  an  existence."  "Whatever  changes 
of  form  it  may  have  undergone,"  says  the  same  historian,  "the  vital 
spirit  and  substance  of  Methodism  has  ever  been  present."  In  1813 
meetings  were  held  in  the  Huntsville  Emporium,  at  the  place  now 
known  as  the  White  Mill.  There  was  preaching  also  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Moab  Paine.  When  the  pres- 
ent Free  Baptist  Church  was  erect- 
ed in  1839,  the  Methodists  for  a 
while  attended  there.  Some  ten 
years  after  this  Mr.  George  W. 
Marsh,  a  fervent  Methodist,  began 
business  at  the  old  mill,  recently 
occupied  by  Mr.  Joshua  Perkins, 
at  Laurel  Hill.  Mr.  Marsh  inau- 
gurated regular  religious  services 
at  that  place,  which  were  held  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  stock  house, 
destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  ago. 
In  1846-47  John  Cowen,  the  over- 
seer of  the  weave  shop,  preached 
every  Sabbath.  Mr.  Cowen  was 
from  the  Isle  of  Man,  an  enthusias- 
tic exhorter  of  the  old-fashioned  I 
kind,  sincere  and  gifted,  who  often 
made  the  ungodly  laugh  by  his 
rough  and  ready  ways.  He  kept 
did  a  noble  work.  At  this  time 


THE  PASCOAG  CHURCH. 


up  the  congregation  and 
and  for  many  years  after- 
ward, the  Methodists  often  held  religious  and  social  gather- 
ings in  Masonic  Hall,  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Edward  Salis- 
bury, on  Laurel  Hill  Avenue.  In  1847  tne  first  Methodist 
Church  was  built  in  Pascoag.  While  Mr.  Cowen  was  minding  his 
weaver's  cloth  in  the  old  mill  on  week  days,  and  caring  for  the  souls 
across  the  road  on  Sundays,  his  employer,  with  the  help  of  a  few 
others,  was  building  a  more  suitable  sanctuary  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent edifice.  The  "Old  Church,"  as  we  now  call  it,  cost  about  $3,000. 
Mr.  George  W.  Marsh  was  the  mainstay  of  the  new  society  then 
formed,  one  of  its  first  Treasurers,  Trustees,  Stewards  and  Class  Lead- 
ers, a  man  of  great  integrity,  public-spirited  and  generous — the  father 
of  Pascoag  Methodism.  The  Laurel  Hill  Methodist  Church  was 


13-2 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


formally  organized  in  1847,  a  little  while  before  the  dedication  of  the 
church.  Its  original  Board  of  Trustees  was  composed  of  Simeon  B. 
Marsh,  James  K.  True,  Livings  Shumway  and  Samuel  White  Lintern. 
To  this  board,  upon  the  evening  of  their  organization,  September 
18,  1852,  Mr.  Marsh  deeded  the  lot  and  church  building  at  Laurel  Hill, 
to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Thus  the  little 
vessel  was  launched  upon  the  uncertainties  of  a  long  voyage. 

In  the  Spring  of  1848  the  first  minister  from  Conference  was  sent 
to  Burrillville,  as  the  appointment  was  then  called. 

There  are  no  records  preserved  of  the  first  two  pastorates,  except 
that  at  their  close  there  were  thirty-two  members  in  full  and  eight  pro- 
bationers. Under  the  spiritual  leadership  of  Rev.  George  W.  Wooding 

the  membership  increased  to  128, 
the  Sunday  School  went  up  from  an 
average  attendance  of  forty  to  that 
of  seventy-five,  and  the  number 
regularly  attending  class  meetings 
was  65  per  cent,  of  the  whole  mem- 
bership. Ninety  were  received  on 
probation  in  Mr.  Wooding's  last 
year.  ''He  was  a  good  man;  his 
piety  uniform,  his  devotion  to  his 
work  consistent  and  his  labors  fruit- 
ful." Rev.  E.  A.  Lyon  followed  Mr. 
Wooding,  and  kept  the  church  up  at 
the  same  spiritual  high  tide.  Many 
were  converted,  much  harmony  pre- 
vailed; some  still  live  among  us 
who  remember  him  with  gratitude.  His  work  here  closed  the  opening 
chapter  of  Methodism.  His  salary,  like  that  of  his  predecessors,  was 
$440  a  year. 

During  the  next  few  pastorates  unexpected  reverses,  for  which  the 
preachers  in  charge  were  in  no  wise  to  blame,  sadly  reduced  the  church. 
In  Rev.  Charles  Hammond's  year,  1855,  there  was  a  general  shutting 
down  of  work  in  Pascoag,  which  scattered  the  congregation.  Mr. 
Marsh  suffered  from  business  embarrassment.  In  1857  this  leading 
supporter  of  the  society  passed  to  his  reward. 

The  year  following  the  death  of  Mr.  Marsh  was  a  year  of  great  dis- 
couragement to  the  people,  because  no  minister  was  sent  from  Con- 
ference to  Burrillville.  It  is  recorded  that  year  that  fourteen  different 
preachers  occupied  the  pulpit.  In  1859  business  and  religion  both 
began  to  revive.  Rev.  S.  S.  Cummings  was  a  great  success.  He  sys- 


REV.  B.  J.  AYRES. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  133 

tematized  the  Sunday  School  organization  and  the  different  depart- 
ments of  church  work,  and,  most  important  of  all,  by  an  indefatigable 
canvass,  in  three  States,  lifted  the  debt  of  $800,  which  threatened  the 
loss  of  the  church  property.  Rev.  Charles  Morse,  who  came  next, 
greatly  profited  the  little  flock  in  things  spiritual  and  temporal.  He 
was  greatly  beloved.  Rev.  Moses  Chase,  who  came  next,  was  stricken 
down  at  his  post,  dying  in  the  church  just  as  he  was  about  to  preach 
the  centenary  sermon,  January  7,  1866.  Mr.  Ara  Paine,  resident  local 
preacher,  creditably  filled  out  the  Conference  year.  Rev.  A.  A.  Pres- 
brey's  two  years,  that  came  next,  were  years  of  hard  work  and  of  suc- 
cess. Several  were  soundly  converted.  It  was  in  his  second  year  that 
a  parsonage  was  purchased  of  the  late  Mr.  Edward  Hill  for  $1,600. 
Many  of  his  friends  are  still  living,  who  have  pleasant  recollections  of 
Mr.  Presbrey.  In  1868  Rev.  S.  S.  Cummings  was  returned  here  for  the 
second  time,  greatly  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  brethren.  His  work  was 
begun  with  his  accustomed  zeal.  In  October  the  Official  Board  re- 
luctantly accepted  his  resignation,  to  take  a  position  in  connection  with 
the  Baldwin  Place  Home  for  Little  Wanderers.  Rev.  B.  K.  Bosworth 
of  Mapleville  filled  out  the  year.  Mr.  Pack  in  1870  labored  faithfully. 
Two  of  his  children  died  here. 

In  1872  a  new  and  permanent  prosperity  came  to  the  church  under 
the  energetic  efforts  of  Rev.  William  Kirkby,  through  whom  old  and 
young  became  very  much  interested  in  church  affairs.  Mr.  Kirkby 
began  the  first  of  four  very  successful  three-year  pastorates,  viz.,  those 
of  Revs.  Kirkby,  Cady,  Oldham  and  Patterson.  During  the  first  of 
these  about  $2,000  was  expended  in  building  a  new  and  commodious 
vestry.  Quite  a  number  were  also  converted.  In  regard  to  Mr.  Cady's 
work  here,  he  has  often  made  the  remark,  "The  three  happiest  years 
of  my  life  were  spent  in  Pascoag."  It  is  also  true  that  the  people,  inside 
and  outside  of  the  church,  look  back  to  his  stay  among  them  with 
hardly  less  delight.  Upwards  of  100  new  members  wrere  added  to  the 
membership  by  Mr.  Cady.  Great  improvement  in  the  financial  ability 
of  the  congregation  and  in  all  social  and  religious  activities  as  well 
were  enjoyed.  The  marked  success  of  1875-7  was  followed  up  by  the 
right  man,  Rev.  John  Oldham.  Long  may  the  day  be  postponed  when 
his  eulogy  shall  be  finally  written,  but  Pascoag  already  forestalls  the 
verdict  of  their  once  popular  pastor,  of  whom  we  may  say : 

"None  knew  him  but  to  love  him, 
.    None  named  him  but  to  praise." 

Again,  after  a  successful  pastorate,  came  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place,  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Patterson.  Mr.  Edson,  after  Mr.  Patterson,  was 


134 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


also  of  lasting  benefit  to  the  society,  and  built  up  the  people  by  his 
solid  sermons  and  by  his  kindly  intercourse  among  them.  Another 
and  superior  parsonage  was  at  this  time  secured  at  an  expense  of 
$2,500.  Rev.  George  M.  Hamlen  is  well  remembered  for  good  ser- 
mons, genial  sociability  and  wise  business  management.  In  1889  Rev. 
Walter  P.  Stoddard  began  an  earnest  and  laborious  pastorate.  The 
Sunday  School  and  the  Epworth  League  owe  much  of  their  fine  organ- 
ization and  interest  to  Mr.  Stoddard.  He  also  prepared  the  plans  for 
the  present  church  edifice,  and  solicited  $4,200  towards  its  erection. 
He  left  the  charge  in  the  midst  of  his  efforts  to  rebuild.  Rev.  Lewis 
B.  Codding  became  pastor  in  November,  1891,  and  with  the  help  of  the 
faithful  Building  Committee,  gave  to  the  public  a  modern  and  pleasant 
place  of  worship.  The  Building  Committee,  who  have  made  this  chap- 
ter in  Laurel  Hill  Methodism,  is  composed  of  O.  T.  Inman,  Joshua 
Perkins,  Esek  R.  Darling  and  Charles  R.  Kershaw.  The  church  was 
dedicated  in  June,  1892,  costing  about  $10,000,  which  \vas  all  provided 
for  in  pledges  at  the  time  of  dedication.  Rev.  Eben  Tirrell  ably  assist- 
ed in  raising  the  funds. 

PASTORS. 


1848. 

1849-50. 

1851-52- 

1853-54. 

1855- 

1856-57- 

1858. 

1859. 

1860-61. 

1862-63. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866-67. 

1868. 


James  B.  Weeks 
George  Burnham 
George  W.  Wooding 
Edward  A.  Lyon 
Charles  Hammond 
Samuel  Fox 
Supplied 
Jonathan  Cady 
Silas  S.  Cummings 
Charles  Morse 
J.  E.  Gifford 
Moses  Chase 
A.  A.  Presbrey 
Silas  Cummings 


1869.  J.  C.  Allen 

1870.  Jabez  Pack 
1872-74.  William  Kirkby 
1875-77.  Hopkins  B.  Cady 
1878-80.  John  Oldham 
1881-83.  Samuel  T.  Patterson 
1884-85.  Edward  Edson 
1886.  George  M.  Hamlen 
1887-88.  Samuel  T.  Patterson 
1889-92.  Walter  P.  Stoddard 
1892.  Lewis  B.  Codding 
1893-95.  Joseph  Hollingshead 
1896-97.  E.  J.  Ay  res 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — O.  T.  Inman,  E.  R.  Darling,  W.  F.  Slade,  Arthur 
Dimery,  Charles  Kershaw,  Andrew  Luther,  Samuel  Mellor,  Joshua 
Perkins  and  George  A.  Bacon. 

Stcivards — O.  T.  Inman,  E.  R.  Darling,  Henry  Bailey,  James  Car- 
penter, Alford  Lewis,  William  Guy,  Bert  Whatley,  Margaret  Dorrity, 
Maria  E.  Salisbury  (Treasurer)  and  Annie  A.  Wheeler. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Henry  Bailey. 

Note. — A  large  part  of  this  history  was  taken  from  a  sketch  written 
by  Rev.  L.  B.  Codding. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  PORTLAND,  CONN. 

In  1835,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  a  Methodist  class  was  or- 
ganized, bearing  the  name  of  Chatham  class  of  the  Chatham  Circuit, 
New  London  District,  and  regular  Methodist  services  were  held  in  a 
small  chapel  built  for  the  purpose,  at  a  place  familiarly  spoken  of  as 
"Across  the  Meadows,"  now  known  as  Rose  Hill  District,  in  the  town 
of  Portland.  This  was  one  of  four  preaching  places  on  the  old  Chat- 
ham Circuit.  At  this  early  date  Daniel  Dorchester  was  Presiding 
Elder;  Freeman  Nutting  and  Amos  Simpson,  circuit  preachers;  Selden 
Cook,  leader,  and  the  class  numbered  twenty-five  members.  "In  April, 
1851,  a  few  brethren  and  friends  of  Methodism  who  had  formerly  wor- 
shiped in  the  old  church  *  *  *  in  connection  with  others  living 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  quarries,  and 
belonging  to  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  in  Midd'e'.own,  request- 
ed of  the  Providence  Conference 
the  appointment  of  a  preacher  to 
this  place.  In  compliance  with 
this  request,  Rev.  F.  W.  Bill  was 
stationed  here.  Mr.  Bill  com- 
menced preaching  in  the  Town 
House,  which  had  been  hired  for 
that  purpose,  and  succeeded  in 
gathering  a  good  congregation  and 
regularly  organizing  a  church  by 
the  union  of  the  old  Chatham  class 
and  about  twenty  members  from 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Middletown."  Owing  to  family 
embarrassment  ,  Mr  Hill  res'gned 
in  September,  and  Rev.  William 
Kellen  supplied  the  remainder  of 
the  year.  "Mr.  Kellen  labored 

with  zeal,  fidelity  and  success,  and  encouraged  by  the  people,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  raising  quite  a  large  subscription  towards  the  erection  of  a 
new  church."  "In  1852  Mr.  Kellen  was  succeeded  by  the  appointment 
of  Rev.  A.  H.  Robinson,  who  labored  earnestly  for  the  consummation 
of  the  enterprise  already  commenced ;  so  that  when  I  (the  Rev.  G.  W. 
Wooding,  from  whose  record  the  above  extracts  are  taken)  came  to 
this  place  in  April,  1853,  the  house  was  up  and  nearly  finished.  It 
was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  by  Rev.  Bishop  O.  C. 
Baker,  July  27th,  1853,  text  Daniel,  ii.,  35."  The  accompanying  pic- 


THE    PORTLAND    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


ture  represents  the  original  and  present  edifice.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  A.  W.  Seavey,  in  1875,  an  excellent  pipe  organ  was  purchased 
and  improvements  made  at  an  expense  of  $1,500.  The  audience  room 


THE    PORTLAND   PARSONAGE. 

was  thoroughly  renovated  at  an  expense  of  about  $1,000  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Richard  Povey. 

In  1876,  A.  W.  Seavey  pastor,  a  chapel  was  built  on  the  church  lot 
for  the  Sunday  School  and  church  gatherings.  This,  with  furnishings, 
cost  $1,000. 

In  1858  a  parsonage  was  built  on  Church  Street,  Mr.  Kellogg 
Strong  being  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  enterprise.  This  house 


REV.   E.    W.   GOODIER. 


MRS.   E.  W.   GOODIER. 


was  sold  in  1892.  In  April,  1894,  the  commodious  residence  of  O.  W. 
was  purchased.  This  fine  property  is  valued  at  $4,000.  Mr.  Mack 
sale  made  a  very  generous  donation  to  the  church. 


137 


Revivals  have  never  been  of  common  occurrence  in  this  church. 
But  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Seavey  great  awakenings  occurred. 
As  a  result  thirty  were  received  "in  full,"  December,  '75,  and  thirty- 


M.  W.   GRIFFIN. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MRS.  M.  E.  CADY. 


two  in  October,  '76,  and  several  recommended  to  other  churches.   Dur- 
ing the  Spring  of  1877  seventeen  were  received  "on  probation." 

Other  pastors  have  been  cheered  by  revival  influences.     July  ist, 
1894,  the  present  pastor  received  fifteen  "in  full,"  the  result  of  special 


o.  w.  MACK. 


SPENCER. 


services  held  during  the  Fall  and  Winter  previous.  Rev.  William  R. 
Rogers,  after  a  brief  ministry  here  of  six  months,  died  in  September, 
1886.  Rev.  Arthur  X.  Searles  served  the  church  with  fidelity  in  1891-2. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


His  health  failed  in  the  Spring  of  1894.  Returning  here,  after  a  pro- 
longed illness,  "he  fell  asleep"  February  12,  1895.  He  was  buried  in 
Trinity  Cemetery,  Portland,  where  a  suitable  monument  has  been 
erected  to  his  memory.  It  would  be  most  appropriate  in  closing  this 
sketch  to  present  the  names  of  those  who  have  carried  the  burdens 
and  shared  in  the  blessings  of  church  fellowship,  but  the  writer 
cannot  do  this  with  clue  discrimination.  I  find  two  members 
who  have  left  legacies  to  the  church,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Crashaw,  $200, 
the  interest  to  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  Sunday  School 
books;  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Jackman  about  $400,  which  has  been 
applied  to  the  reducing  of  the  debt  on  the  parsonage.  Of  the  original 
members  of  the  church  such  as  the  Strongs,  Hulburts,  Kelseys  and 
Macks,  only  the  last  is  left  to  the  church.  It  is  noteworthy  that  Mr. 
O.  W.  Mack,  at  present  one  of  the  most  active  workers,  was  a  member 
of  the  committee  to  secure  a  deed  of  the  ground  for  the  church  build- 
ing, to  solicit  funds  and  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  Committee 
on  Church  Building. 


PASTORS. 


1851. 

1852. 

1852. 

1853-54. 

1855-56. 

1857- 
1857. 
1858-59. 
1860. 

1861-62. 


1864-65. 
1866-67. 
1868-69. 


Frank  W.  Bill 
William  Kellen 
A.  H.  Robinson 
G.  W.  Wooding 
Robert  Parsons 
W.  J.  Foss 

W.  J.  Foss  (Sept.-Apr.) 
Ira  G.  Bidwell 
Erastus  Benton 
A.  H.  Wyatt 
L.  W.  Blood 
F.  J.  Wagner 
Richard  Donkersley 
William  O.  Cady 
William  H.  Cook 
Benjamin  Gill 


1870-71. 

1872. 

J8/3. 

1874-76. 

1877-78. 

1879. 

1880-82. 

1883-85. 

1886. 

1886. 

1887-88. 

1889-90. 

1891-92. 

1893-97. 


E.  M.  Anthony 
John  Howson 
E.  B.  Bradford 
A.  W.  Seavey 
Walter  Ela 
J.  H.  Nutting 
O.  H.  Fernald 
Richard  Povey 
W.  R.  Rogers 

(Died  in  Sept.) 
W.  S.  Manship 
H.  H.  Martin 
J.  W.  Presbey 
A.  N.  Searles 
E.  W.  Goodier 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— O.  W.  Mack.  Thomas  Stewart,  Osmer  Fowler,  Freder- 
ick Weir,  W.  G.  Spencer,  C.  W.  Hamilton,  Dr.  F.  E.  Potter,  William 
Watrous,  Titus  Hale. 

Stcuvrds—O.  W.  Mack,  C.  W.  Hamilton,  Wr.  G.  Spencer,  Osmer 
Fowler,  Thomas  Stewart,  Frederick  Weir,  Edward  Hale,  E.  L.  Ells- 
worth, B.  F.  Millen,  M.  W.  Griffin,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Hamilton,  Mrs.  William 
Watrous,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Millen. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


139 


Sunday  School — M.  W.  Griffin,  Superintendent;  O.  W.  Mack,  As- 
sistant; Miss  Eva  Hick,  Secretary;  Donald  McKay,  Librarian;  Mrs. 
C.  W.  Hamilton,  Treasurer. 

Teachers — E.  L.  Ellsworth,  Mrs.  L.  W.  Moshier,  Mrs.  Carrie  Reed, 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Hamilton,  Mrs.  George  Smith,  Miss  Mary  Cramer,  Mrs. 
William  Albee,  Miss  Selena  Hick,  Mrs.  Henry  France,  E.  W.  Goodier, 
Miss  Lillian  Hick,  O.  W.  Mack. 

Epworth  League — Mrs.  E.  W.  Goodier,  President;  Mrs.  Henry 
France,  First  Vice-President;  Miss  Genie  Ferguson,  Second  Vice- 
President;  Mrs.  Asaph  Hale,  Third  Vice-President;  E,  W.  Goodier, 
Fourth  Vice-President;  Miss  Isabella  Reed,  Fifth  Vice-President; 
Miss  Lillian  Hick,  Sixth  Vice-President. 


MRS.  HARMONY  GARDNER. 

Mrs.  Harmony  Gardner,  wife  of  Rev.  Abel  Gardner,  a  deceased 

member  of  the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  was  a  writer  of 

wide  reputation,  both  in  prose  and 
poetry.  Her  poetry  was  beauti- 
ful and  often  sublime.  Her  prose 
sparkled  with  wit  and  humor,  and 
she  herself  was  one  of  the  most 
entertaining  of  women  and  a  great 
favorite  among  literary  people  of 
her  day.  Dr.  D.  W.  Clark,  editor 
of  The  Repository,  said  of  her: 
"She  is  one  of  our  most  talented 
and  useful  contributors."  Among 
her  principal  prose  works  are 
"Glimpses  of  Our  Lake  Region," 
"Hetty;  or,  a  Tale  of  the  Revolu- 
tion," "Diary  of  a  Country  Pas- 
tor." In  1860  she  \vas  a  constant 

contributor  to  the  Ladies'  Repository    and   to    other    papers.      Our 

Conference  may  well  be  proud  of  her. 

Taber. 


MRS.   HAPMONY    GARDNER. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  PUTNAM,  CONN. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  this  place,  as  an  organized 
body,  dates  back  to  June  28th,  1858.  Prior  to  this  time  this  was  an 
evening  preaching  appointment  supplied  by  the  preacher  in  charge  at 
West  Thompson,  and  by  local  preachers.  The  services  were  held  in 

schoolhomcs,  in  private  houses, 
in  the  opca  air  and  any  place 
where  the  people  could  be  gath- 
ered together,  and  finally  in 
what  was  known  as  Morse's 
Hall.  These  meetings  were  sea- 
sons of  great  spiritual  power. 
They  were  sustained  by  the  Per- 
rins,  Tourtelottes,  Chandlers  and 
others  of  sainted  memory. 
Among  the  many  places  pointed 
to  as  spots  where  the  heroes  of 

THE    BUTNAM   PARSONAGE.  ,       ,_. 

those  early  times  used  to  pro- 
claim the  word  of  life  to  friend  and  Joe,  is  the  piece  of  ground  where 
the  new  parsonage  now  stands.  It  was  a  deep  ravine,  with  steep  hills 
on  either  side,  sloping  to  the  east  and  \vest,  and  opening  to  the  south. 


REV.  JACOB  BETTS. 


MRS.  JACOB  BETTS. 


The  whole  place  was  clothed  with  the  forest  primeval,  while  from 
the  bottom  of  the  ravine  gushed  a  stream  of  pure  water,  making  a  most 
appropriate  place  from  which  to  proclaim  the  message  of  free  grace. 
Here  the  eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow,  with  the  stump  of  a  tree  for  his  pul- 
pit, proclaimed  the  message  of  free  salvation  to  throngs  of  people. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


141 


This  place  for  many  years  was  called  Dow  Grove.  In  recent  years  the 
trees  have  been  removed,  the  ravine  partly  filled  and  the  whole  plot 
made  into  building  lots  for  the  increasing  population  of  this  thriving 
young  city.  The  street  on  the  north  side  retains  part  of  the  old  name, 


j.  c.  NICHOLS. 


J.   L.    INMAN. 


and  is  called  Grove  Street.  Looking  out  from  the  study  window  to  the 
southwest,  across  the  Quinabog  River,  one  of  the  first  things  to  catch 
the  eye  is  the  spot  where  the  old  Perrin  homestead  stood,  where  many 
of  the  fathers  of  New  England  Methodism  were  most  hospitably  enter- 
tained. In  the  Winter  of  1858  a  great  revival  broke  out,  in  which  many 
were  saved. 

This  gave  the  cause  new  strength,  so  that  on  June  28th,  1858,  Rev. 
L.  B.  Bates  organized  the  church,  at  which  time  about  thirty  of  the 
members  of  the  West  Thompson  church  removed  their  relationship  to 
the  church  in  this  place.  They  at  once  began  the  erection  of  a  house 
in  which  to  worship.  They  continued  to  have  preaching  each  Sabbath 
evening  in  the  hall  until  their  church  was  completed.  It  was  dedi- 
cated December  3oth,  1858.  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates  preached  the  dedicatory 
sermon.  H.  S.  Ramsdell  offered  prayer  and  other  brethren  who  were 
present  participated  in  the  exercises.  The  people  took  possession  of 
the  new  house  January  ist,  1859.  The  land  on  which  the  church  stands 
was  deeded  December  3d,  1858,  by  George  C.  Nightingale  &  Co.  to 
the  following-named  Trustees:  William  Tourtellotte,  Moses  Chand- 
ler, Nathaniel  Batty,  Ashael  Batty,  Walter  Burlingham,  Isaac  Pressey, 
and  Martin  Leach. 

Until  the  past  year  no  suitable  home  has  been  provided  for  the 
pastor. 


142 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  1893  and  1894,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  E.  F.  Smith,  lots 
were  bought  and  paid  for,  and  the  foundation  laid  for  church  and  par- 
sonage. On  account  of  business  depression  the  enterprise  had  to  be 
abandoned  until  the  past  year.  In  the  latter  part  of  June,  1897,  a  con- 
tract was  awarded  to  Charles  E. 
Kelley  for  the  building  of  a  new 
parsonage.  The  work  was  well 
and  quickly  done,  so  that  on  the 
1 3th  of  October  it  was  completed. 


FRANK  M.  BENNETT, 
Epworth    League   President. 


E.  C.  WOOD. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


PASTORS. 

Rev.  L.  B.  Bates  supplied  the  pulpit  from  the  time  of  dedication 
to  April  ist,  1859. 


1859-60.  C.  S.  Sanford  1877-80. 

1 860-6 1.  W.  H.  Conant  1880-82. 

1862-63.  George  W.  Brewster        1882-84. 

1864-65.  James  Mather  1884-85. 

1865-66.  John  Loveiov  1886-87. 

1867-68.  Robert  Clark  1888. 

1869-70.  L.  D.  Bentley  1889-92. 

1871.  J.  S.  Thomas  1892-94. 

1872-73.  A.  N.  Bodfish  1894-97. 

1874-75.  E.  F.  Jones  1897. 

1876.  H.   H.  Martin 


J.  C.  Gowan 
L.  P.  Causey 
James  Tregaskis 
Walter  P.  Stoddard 
George  H.  Butler 
Shepherd  F.  Harriman 
Wilbur  C.  Newell 
E.  F.  Smith 
W.  L.  Hood 
J.  Betts 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — D.  G.  Arnold,  E.  M.  Foster,  M.  W.  Bennett,  A.  Hough- 
ton,  E.  R.  Wood,  A.  Battv,  W.  B.  Stone,  E.  C.  Wood. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  143 

Stewards— D.  G.  Arnold,  E.  M.  Foster,  M.  W.  Bennett,  A. 
Houghton,  E.  R.  Wood,  A.  Batty,  W.  B.  Stone,  E.  C.  Wrood,  J.  Cope- 
land,  E.  S.  Wood,  W.  Wallen,  J.  Tubbs. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  E.  C.  Wood;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Daniel  Cunningham;  Secretary,  Ernest  Gilmore;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Etta  Whiting;  Choir  Leader,  John  L.  Inman;  Organist,  Miss 
Helen  Benson. 

Epworth  League — Frank  M.  Bennett,  President;  Mrs.  J.  Betts, 
First  Vice-President;  Miss  Anna  Chaffee,  Second  Vice-President;  Miss 
Emma  Gleason,  Third  Vice-President;  John  L.  Inman,  Fourth  Vice- 
President;  Miss  Jessie  Nichols,  Secretary;  Miss  Clara  Reeves,  Treas- 
urer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  QUARRYVILLE,  CONN. 
By  Edgar  A.  Brownell. 

The  first  Methodist  camp-meeting-  held  in  New  England  was  in 
Bolton,  Conn.,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  on  land  owned  by 
Church  Hutchins,  and  now  owned  by  William  B.  Kingsbury,  Esq.  This 
old  camp-ground  is  near  Andover  town  line.  Lorenzo  Dow,  a  famous 


THE    QUARRYVILLE    CHURCH. 

Methodist  minister,  was  the  central  figure,  and  large  crowds  from  the 
surrounding  country  flocked  to  see  and  hear  him. 

This  meeting  was  held  May  30  and  31,  June  i,  2  and  3,  1805.  The 
country  around  was  inhabited  or  densely  settled  by  "Federal  Presby- 
terians." There  is  a  tradition  that  the  Rev.  George  Colton  of  Bolton 
was  strongly  opposed  to  the  meeting,  as  he  felt  it  was  an  encroachment 
on  his  field. 


SO  U I  'ENIR  HIS  TOR  Y. 


Three  camp-meetings  have  been  held  in  Bolton  since  1805,  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town,  on  land  owned  by  Jabez  L.  White,  to  wit:  1836, 
1838  and  1847,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  "White  Gate,"  on  the  South 
Manchester  road,  on  land  now  owned  by  Dr.  C.  F.  Sumner. 


REV.  O.  G.   TERRY. 


MRS.  O.  G.  TERRY. 


Methodist  meetings  were  first  held  in  1823,  at  the  house  of  Isaac 
Keeney,  and  in  pleasant  weather  were  held  under  the  shade  of  trees  in 


EDGAR  A.  BROWNELL. 
Epworth   League   President. 


AIRS.  M.  W.  HOWARD. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


the  vicinity  of  what  is  known  as  Quarryville,  sometimes  under  a  large 
elm  tree,  near  the  late  Isaac  Keeney's  residence. 

The  first  meeting-house  was  built  in  1834,  and  stood  near  the  site 
of  the  present  one,  and  was  sold  to  the  Universalist  Society  in  1851-2, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


145 


and  removed  about  eighty  rods  west.  The  present  meeting-house  was 
built  in  1852,  and  cost  between  $3,000  and  $4,000,  and  has  never  been 
without  a  minister  and  a  fair  congregation. 

Some  years  since  the  Rev.  James  S.  Thomas,  then  stationed  here, 
thought  the  society  needed  a  church  bell  and  a  barn.  He  procured  the 
same,  and  then  set  at  work  to  pay  for  them.  During  his  pastorate  here 
special  services  were  held  and  a  great  revival  took  place,  "and  the 
Lord  added  to  the  church  daily  such  as  should  be  saved,"  many  of 
whom  are  at  present  members  in  the  church.  Rev.  E.  J.  Ayers  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Thomas,  and  under  his  management  the  church  grew 
strong  day  by  day,  and  some  fifty  members  were  added  during  his  pas- 
torate here.  He  was  much  beloved  by  all.  He  also  during  this  time 
raised  between  $2,700  and  $2,800  for  church  purposes.  His  work  in 
the  financial  interest  of  the  church  has  never  been  equaled. 

There  have  been  in  all  fifty-nine  preachers  stationed  here  since 
1823.  The  name  Bolton  was  first  used  in  1836,  and  Rev.  Lozien  Pierce 
was  the  stationed  preacher.  Before  this  date  the  circuit  was  known  as 
Tolland,  Tolland  and  Mansfield,  and  in  1832  as  Mansfield  and  Willi- 
mantic.  From  1837  until  1840  the  station  was  known  as  Tolland  and 
Bolton.  In  1840  it  became  known  as  Bolton  Station,  and  Rev.  Lorin 
C.  Collins  was  the  preacher.  It  was  called  Quarryville  in  1849,  Jonn 
W.  Case  being  the  preacher,  and  it  has  so  appeared  in  the  minutes 
since  that  date. 


PASTORS. 

1823.  Joseph  Ireson  1831. 
John  W.  Case 

1824.  Seth  Cogswell  1832. 

1825.  Moses  Fifield 

Benjamin  F.  Lambord     1833. 
Elisha  Frink 
1825-26.     Leonard  Griffin  ^34. 

1827.  E.  Otis 

R.  Spaulding 

1828.  Heman  Perry  I&35. 
George  Stone 

Hezekiah  Ramsdell  1836. 

1829.  Paul  Townsend 

Horace  Moulton  1837. 

John  W.  Case 

1830.  Paul  Townsend  1838. 
John  E.  Risley 

(The     above     named  1839. 
preachers  were  on  Tol-  1840. 
land     circuit     and     in-  1841-42. 
eluded  Bolton.)  1843-44. 


Edmund  M.  Beebe 
George  May 
Henry  Mayo 
J.  E.  Risley 
Samuel  Heath 
Windsor  Ward 
Samuel  Heath 
Ziba  Loveland 
Elisha  B.  Bradford 
Benjamin  M.  Walker 
William  Willcott 
Benjamin  Wralke>r 
Lozien  Pierce 
Lozien  Pierce 
Edmund  A.  Standish 
Benjamin  C.  Phelps 
Moses  Palmer 
Windsor  Ward 
Lorin  C.  Collins 
C.  D.  Rogers 
Richard  Donkersley 


146 

1845-46. 
1846-47- 
1848-49- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


.1851-52. 

1*53-54- 

1855-56. 

1857-58- 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865-67. 

1868-69. 

1870. 

1871. 


Abram  Hoi  way  1872-73. 

George  S.  Judd  1874. 

J.  W.  Case  I875-77- 

E.  A.  Standish  1877 '-79. 

H  W.  Conant  1 880-81. 

L.  W.  Blood  1882-83. 

T.  B.  Gurney  1884-85. 

Warren  Emerson  1886-87. 

William  Turkington  1888. 

W.  S.  Simmons  1889. 

Walter  Ela  1890. 
William  Turkington         1891-93. 

Jabez  Pack  1 894-95- 

B.  M.  Walker  1896. 

D.G.Ashley  1897. 


John  Lovejoy 
Heflin  S.  Smith 
James  S.  Thomas 
Edward  J.  Ayers 
Charles  Hammond 
Nelson  Goodrich 
W.  C.  Newell 
John  H.  Sherman 
W.  M.  Cleveland 
Benjamin  F.  Raynor 
N.  M.  Learned 
C.  B.  Bromley 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
Thomas  C.  Denman 
O.  G.  Terry 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards— Marvin  K.  Clark  (R.  S.),  E.  R.  Chappell,  K.  S.  Usher, 
Francis  Risley,  H.  Greeley  Royal,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Long,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Rose, 
Mrs.  M.  W.  Howard,  Miss  Hattie  Barrows,  Miss  Ellen  S.  Clark, 
Thomas  Finnegan,  Edgar  A.  Brownell  (D.  S.). 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ROCKVILLE,  CONN. 

The  first  preaching  by  the  Methodists  in  Rockville  was  in  1833. 
The  village  was  small  and  had  no  meeting-house  or  church  organiza- 
tion. All  religious  services  were 
held  either  in  private  houses  or 
in  a  small  schoolhouse  on  West 
Street. 

In  1834,  the  preachers  on  Tol- 
land  and  Stafford  circuit,  Revs. 
Stephen  Gushing,  Ezra  Withey 
and  Lozien  Pierce,  held  meetings 
in  the  place,  and  in  the  Autumn 
formed  a  class  of  four  persons. 
From  this  time  till  1840  local 
preachers  from  Norwich  and 
Hartford  supplied  preaching, 
when  Benjamin  M.  Walker  and 
Caleb  D.  Rogers  were  appointed 
to  Vernon,  the  town  in  which 
Rockville  is  situated;  the  latter 
name  was  not  given  the  appoint- 
THB  ROCKVILLE  CHURCH.  ment  till  1844. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


147 


A  lot  of  land  having  been  donated,  a  church  was  erected  and  dedi- 
cated in  May,  1847.  From  this  time  the  place  became  a  station  occu- 
pied by  a  preacher  with  a  family.  A  Sunday  School  was  now  organized 
and  a  choir  formed. 

In  the  Winter  of  1854  the  church  edifice  was  burned.  The  chapel 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church  was  offered  and  for  some  months 
was  used  for  services  until  the  building  erected  on  Main  Street  by  the 
Baptists  was  purchased.  This  served  the  society  until  1866,  when  more 
ample  accommodations  became  desirable.  One  of  the  most  eligible 
sites  in  the  city  was  secured  on  Park  Square  and  a  fine  brick  edifice 


THE    ROCKVILKE    PARSONAGE. 

erected  at  a  cost  of  $56,000.  After  dedication  a  debt  of  $38,000  re- 
mained on  the  property.  The  sale  of  a  considerable  part  of  the  land 
and  the  banking  rooms  in  the  front  of  the  building  reduced  the  indebt- 
edness to  $10,000.  The  interest  accumulated,  and  in  1885  the  whole 
debt  amounted  to  $26,000.  At  this  date  Rev.  J.  H.  James  became  pas- 
tor. Under  his  efficient  management  the  whole  obligation  was  can- 
celled. Messrs.  Cyrus  White  and  Lewis  A.  Corbin  subscribed  an 
amount  considerably  in  excess  of  the  accumulated  interest,  and  other 
members  of  the  church  and  friends  outside  gave  liberally.  The  aid 
rendered  by  the  Congregational  churches  of  the  city  was  very  gen- 
erous. 

Many  able  and  faithful  men  have  served  the  church  as  preachers. 
Frequent  revivals  have  occurred,  some  of  which  have  been  of  unusual 
power  and  extent,  notably  those  during  the  pastorates  of  Revs.  H.  H. 
Martin  and  G.  W.  Miller. 

A  union  service  one  Sunday  evening  each  month  among  the  Bap- 
tist, Congregationalist  and  Methodist  churches  was  begun  in  1875  and 
has  continued  with  good  results  till  the  present  time. 


148 


SOUYEN1R  HISTORY. 


The  annual  Conference  was  held  with  this  church  in  1885,  and  was 
productive  of  much  good  in  the  community. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  N.  G.  Axtell  in  1878-9,  a  society  was 
formed  to  accumulate  a  fund  for  a  parsonage.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  O.  W.  Scott,  a  house  was  purchased  on  Union  Street.  The 
mortgage  debt  on  this  property  had  been  gradually  reduced  until  in 
December,  1897,  only  $800  remained  to  be  paid.  By  a  well  planned 
and  persistent  effort  this  was  raised  by  subscription,  and  in  January, 
1898,  this  very  fine  property  was  turned  over  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
church  by  the  Parsonage  Society  free  from  all  incumbrance. 

A  chapter  of  the  Epworth  League  was  organized  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  O.  W.  Scott  which  has  done  good  work  in  all  depart- 
ments. It  now  enrolls  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  members.  The 

-„,  church  membership  is  two  hundred 
and  ninety-one  full  members  and 
seventeen  probationers..  The  Sun- 
day-school numbers  two  hundred 
a;ul  ninety-eight. 


REV.  W.  J.  YATKS. 


MRS.  MATTIE  B.  YATES. 


The  sittings  in  the  church  are  free  at  all  services  and  the  current 
expenses  are  met  by  weekly  offerings  and  subscriptions.  All  salaries 
are  paid  promptly  by  checks  the  first  of  each  month.  The  total  con- 
tributions for  all  purposes  amount  to  a  little  less  than  $3,500  per 
annum,  of  which  sum  a  little  less  than  $450  is  for  benevolent  causes. 

PASTORS. 


1834.          Stephen  Gushing 
Ezra  Withey 
Lozien  Pierce 


1836.  Henry  Torbush 

Windsor  Ward 
Edmund  A.  Standish 
Elam  Chaplin 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


149 


1838.          Elam  Chaplin 

1840.  Benjamin  M.  Walker 
Caleb  D.  Rogers 

1841.  L.  Leffingwell 
L.  W.  Blood 
E.  A.  Standish 

1842.  —  Lanson 
B.  Clark 
Warren  Emerson 

1843.  Ralph  W.  Allen,  Presid- 

ing Elder 


JOHN  W.  FORREST. 
Epworth    I^eagne   President. 


1844-45-    A-  F-  Park 

B.  M.  Walker 

1846.  Henry  Torbush 
John  B.  Gould 

1847.  William  W.  Kurd 
1848-49.     Anthony  Palmer 
1850.           Lorenzo  W.  Blood 
1851-52.     W.  S.  Simmons 
1853-54.     George  W.  Brewster 
1855.          W.  O.  Cady 

I857  58.     George  W.  Wooding 

1859.  Charles  Morse 

1860.  Caleb  S.  Sanford 
i86r-6i.  Robert  Parsons 
1863-64.  John  Lovejoy 
1865-66.  Erastus  Benton 
1867-69.  John  W.  Willett 
1870-71.  Edward  H.  Hatfield 
1872.  Shadrach  Leader 
'873-75.  Henry  H.  Martin 
1876-77.  George  W.  Miller 
1878-79.  Nathan  G.  Axtell 
1880-82.  Richard  Povey 

1883.  Oliver  H.  Fernald 

1884.  George  W.  Brewster 
.1885-87.  Joseph  H.  James 
1888-90.  Orange  W.  Scott 
1891-94.  George  H.  Bates 

1 895-97.  Walter  J.  Yates 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Sunday  School  Board — Superintendent,  the  Pastor;  First  Assist- 
ant, Mrs.  Hannah  Wilson;  Second  Assistant,  Miss  Rosa  G.  Weston; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  E.  G.  Berr;  Librarian,  F.  C.  Presbrey. 

Teachers — Miss  Grace  Smith,  Miss  Edith  Hunt,  Miss  Jennie  Stur- 
geon, Miss  Emma  Hahn,  Miss  Mary  Highland,  Miss  Ella  Hiscox,  Miss 
Etta  Fitch,  Miss  A.  N.  Bulkely,  Miss  May  Presbrey,  Miss  Cora 
Nichols,  Miss  Myrtie  Presbrey,  Miss  Nellie  A.  Presbrey,  Miss  Flora 
Duncan,  Mrs.  C.  T.  Hunt,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Newell,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Metcalf, 
Mrs.  Lina  McPherson,  Mrs.  Louisa  Wilson,  Mr.  Fred  Hewitt,  Mr.  C. 
E.  Harwood,  Mr.  A.  B.  Parker,  Mr.  S.  S.  Fitch,  Mr.  Asa  Pettengill, 
R.  F.  Hahn,  D.  S.  Presbrey,  Lillie  M.  Marshman,  Laura  E.  Gay. 

League  Officers — President,  John  W.  Forrest;  First  Vice-President, 
Miss  Emma  Hahn;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Waite;  Treas- 
urer, F.  C.  Presbrey;  Secretary,  A.  E.  Waite. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Trustees— Lewis  A.  Corbin,  A.  G.  Jacobs,  H.  O.  Keeney,  A.  B. 
Parker,  J.  A.  Ogden,  S.  S.  Fitch,  J.  McPherson. 

Stewards—  D.  S.  Presbrey  (D.  S.),  Edward  Waite,  E.  G.  Berr 
(Treasurer),  A.  R.  Newell,  C.  W.  Bradley,  F.  C.  Presbrey,  C.  A.  Davis, 
F.  E.  Metcalf,  J.  Silcox,  C.  B.  Reed,  F.  H.  Presbrey,  W.  A.  Metcalf 
(R.  S.). 

A.  B.  Parker,  Class  Leader;  J.  H.  James,  Resident  Member  of 
Conference;  A.  E.  Waite,  Organist. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  COVENTRY,  CONN. 

The  only  source  of  information  which  we  have  been  able  to  find 
concerning  the  beginning  and  first  years  of  Methodism  in  this  town 
is  the  work  of  one  of  her  distinguished  and  most  eccentric  sons,  the 
far-famed  Lorenzo  Dow,  born  about  one  mile  from  the  present  church, 

on  South  street,  where  an 
old  well  marks  the  spot, 
October  16,  1777.  Dow 
was  one  of  the  converts, 
November  12,  1792,  in  the 
first  meeting  which  was 
held  for  several  days,  the 
Rev.  Hope  Hull  preach- 
ing the  first  Methodist 
sermon  from  the  text, 
"This  is  a  faithful  saying, 
and  worthy  of  all  accepta- 
tion, that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to 
save  sinners."  The  next 
day  the  text  was  Jeremiah 
viii:  22,  "Is  there  no  balm 
in  Gilead?"  etc.  From 
this  revival  a  society  was 
doubtless  formed,  as  Dow 
speaks  of  having  been  re- 
ceived into  "society"  by  G.  Roberts,  and  of  his  first  efforts  at  prayer  and 
exhortation  in  "society,"  October  and  November  respectively,  1/94. 
He  mentions  other  meetings  that  were  held  from  time  to  time,  his  own 
sufferings  under  a  sense  of  a  call  to  preach  in  1795,  and  his  being  sent 


SOUTH    COVENTRY    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


SOUTH    COVENTRY    PARSONAGE. 


"to  the  brethren  for  a  few 
days,"  at  Tolland,  by  "C. 
Spry,  the  circuit  preacher, 
January  7,  1796."  In  1799, 
having  been  away  preaching, 
Lorenzo  mentions  his  return 
to  Coventry,  holding  several 
meetings  and  preaching  the 
funeral  sermon  of  "S.  Parker, 
the  Class  Leader,"  August  4, 
1799,  who,  he  says,  "died  hap- 
py in  the  love  of  God."  This 
seems  to  be  sufficient  evidence 
that,  beginning  with  the  re- 
vival under  Hope  Hull,  Coventry  became  a  regular  appointment  in  the 
circuit,  which  also  embraced  Tolland  village.  Our  author  speaks  also 
of  having  returned  to  Coventry  in  1801,  and  again  in  1802,  when  he 
held  meetings.  In  1814  and  in  1817  he  made  visits  home  and  held 
meetings,  but  makes  no  mention  of  "society"  or  circuit  preachers 
after  the  death  of  S.  Parker,  the  Class  leader,  1799.  So  it  seems  that 
the  work,  though  beginning  well,  after  a  few  years  ceased  to  be 
retained  among  the  places  for  stated  Methodist  preaching,  although 
there  were  doubtless  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  on  the  ground 
until  the  year  1822,  when  "Rouse  Gardner,  a  young  man  from  North 
Coventry,"  held  meetings  again  in  the  town,  "in  the  South  Street 
schoolhouse,"  when  many  souls  were  converted.  In  1823  "Father 
Bonner"  and  Joel  McKee  were  preachers  on  the  circuit,  including 
Coventry,  when  the  latter  baptized  30  people  in  the  lake.  They  were 
now  denied  the  privilege  of  holding  meetings  in  the  schoolhouse,  and 
fitted  up  an  old  store,  where  services  were  still  held,  on  South  street. 
Cyril  Parker  was  made  Class  Leader.  However,  information  is  now 
lacking  until,  in  1827,  when  we  find  the  "old  stone  meeting-house" 
converted  into  a  "hat  shop";  and  in  1829  the  work  is  again  brought 
to  light,  and  B.  Moses  Walker  and  Mr.  Wolcott  are  the  circuit  preach- 
ers, and  a  revival  is  held  in  the  "east  schoolhouse,"  and  Alanson 
Parker  is  made  Class  Leader.  After  this  services  were  held  in  "the 
schoolhouse  opposite  the  Green."  From  1829  to  1838  there  is  no 
record  that  has  not  been  supplied  from  memory.  This  being  derived 
from  conversation  with  aged  parties,  does  not  seem  reliable.  It  ap- 
pears, however,  that  following  Moses  Walker  and  Mr.  Wolcott,  William 
Leonard,  H.  Torbush,  Mr.  Scott,  A.  Holloway,  James  Weeks,  R.  Don- 
kersley,  Abel  Gardner,  Lawton  Cady  and  N.  Coyne  served  as  pastors, 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


though  in  probably  a  different  order  from  this,  while  some  may  have 
served  whose  names  are  not  recalled.  Gurleyville  was  connected  under 
the  same  Quarterly  Conference  for  a  part  of  this  time  down  to  1848. 
A  few  items  of  history  are  too  important  to  be  overlooked: 
].  Revivals. — As  we  have  seen,  the  church  was  born  in  a  revival 
in  1792;  also,  in  1822,  the  work  was  saved  from  extinction  by  another 
great  revival,  when  at  least  30  converts  were  baptized;  also,  in  1829, 
after  seven  years  of  persecution  and  conflicts,  another  revival  in  the 
East  schoolhouse  both  strengthened  the  members  and  added  new  ones, 
amid  sore  persecutions.  Rev.  Horace  Moulton  (see  Memoir  of  Eliza- 
beth Ann  Moulton,  p.  99,  published  in  1845,  title  "The  Young  Pastor's 
\Yife,")  mentions  having  a  wheel  taken  from  his  carriage  in  the  time 


REV.  C.  A.  PURDY. 


MRS.   C.   A.   PURDY. 


of  this  revival,  which  was  carried  off.  Again,  in  the  pastorate  of  John 
F.  Sheffield,  1848-49,  another  revival  brought  strength  to  the  church 
and  salvation  to  many  souls.  The  next  extensive  revival  occurred  in 
the  pastorate  of  G.  W.  Hunt,  1876-77.  The  Congregational  Church, 
however,  received  most  of  the  converts.  The  pastorate  of  W.  W.  Ellis, 
1881-83,  was  a^so  blessed  with  a  union  revival  in  which  many  were 
saved.  Since  that  time,  while  souls  have  been  saved,  yet  no  deep  and 
general  revival  has  prevailed. 

2.  Material  Improvements. — After  the  "old  stone  meeting- 
house" the  society  had  no  house  of  worship  of  its  own,  until  1838, 
when  a  subscription  was  raised  and  a  chapel  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$1,206.91.  Here  the  society  flourished  for  some  years.  In  1866-67, 
under  Mr.  Cummings,  the  present  church  was  erected,  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  east  of  the  old  chapel,  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  being  dedi- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  153 

cated  July  17,  1867,  by  P.  T.  Kenney,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district. 
The  present  parsonage  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Oldham, 
in  1875.  In  the  time  of  Mr.  Ellis,  1881-83,  debts  were  paid  to  the 
amount  of  $1,709.47,  a  neat  little  barn  was  built,  and  money  expended 
for  repairs,  furnishings,  improvements,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of  $229.60. 
The  property  is  all  now  in  good  repair,  and  insured.  The  old  chapel 
was  bought  by  Mr.  Dodge,  pastor  in  1879-80,  converted  into  tene- 
ments, and  is  now  used  as  a  dwelling. 

PASTORS. 


1848-49.     John  F.  Sheffield 
1850-51.     Nahum  Tainter 
1852.          Lyman  Leffingwell 
1853-54.     B"  M.  Walker 
1855.           Ro>ger  Albiston 

I856. 

1857. 
1858-59. 

!  860.  *  ' 
l86l-62. 
l863-65. 

.  O^^    f  _ 

John  W.  Case 
William  Hurst 
D.  Bradbury 
W.  Phillips 
Lewis  E.  Dunham 
Nelson  Goodrich 

SC*       /""* 

. 

**  *^ 

&          0 

if  PI 

1  866-67. 
1868. 
1  869. 
18/0-72. 
.873. 
[874. 
1875. 
1876-77. 
1878. 
1879-80. 
1881-83. 
1884-85 

.  b.  Cummmgs 
II.  S.  Ramsdell 
James  W.  Fitch 
George  DeB.  Stoddard 
Mellen  Howard 
A.  A.  Presbrey 
John  Oldham 
G.  W.  Hunt 
E.  F.  Smith 
J.  O.  Dodge 
W.  W.  Ellis 
S    V    B    Cross 

J.   D.    WILSON. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 

1886. 
1887-89. 
1  890-0  1  . 
1892-93. 
1894-05. 
1896. 
1897. 

O.  A.  Farley 
Jr-hn  Pearce 
M.  T.  Braley 
G.  H.  Lamson 
H.  H.  Martin 
L.  H.  Massey 
C.  A.  Purely 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees—].  D.  Wilson,  President;  H.  N.  Newell,  Albert  P. 
Woodworth,  John  H.  Freeman,  Alford  Carr,  D.  W.  Fisk,  William 
Weaver. 

Stewards—].  D.  Wilson  (R.  S.),  Charles  Kolb  (D.  S.),  A.  Wood- 
worth,  H.  N.  Newell,  William  Weaver,  Gardner  Reynolds,  Sarah 
Wolfe,  Emma  Kolb,  Charlotte  Hodgson,  Addie  R.  Hyde,  Lemyra  S. 
Smith,  D.  W.  Fisk,  F.  L.  Aldrich. 

Class  Leader — J.  D.  Wilson. 


154 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  D.  Wilson;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Charles  Kolb;  Secretary,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Wilson;  Librarian, 
Charles  Lathrop. 

Teachers— Pastor,  H.  N.  Newell,  A.  R.  Hyde,  S.  A.  Wolfe,  Nellie 
Wolfe,  Pastor's  wife,  Mrs.  H.  Parker,  Edna  Newell,  Nellie  Potter. 

Epworth  League — President,  the  Pastor;  First  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Ida  Smith;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Wolfe;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Edna  Newell;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Ella 
Weaver;  Secretary,  William  Weaver;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Purdy. 

Junior  League — President,  Mrs.  Purdy;  Vice  President,  Miss  A.  R. 
Hjde;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Ida  Smith;  Third  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Ella  Weaver;  Secretary,  Miss  Hattie  Smith;  Treasurer,  Willie 
Smith. 

Woman's F.  M.  S. — President,  Mrs.  M.  W.  Purdy;  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Emma  Kolb. 

Gleaners — President,  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Ledoyt;  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Mamie  Kirk;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  Hettie  Tis- 
dale. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  GLASTONBURY,  CONN. 

The  exact  time  when  Methodist  meetings  were  first  held  in  South 
Glastonbury  is  not  known.  Rev.  Mr.  Paine,  a  local  preacher,  fitted  up 
a  room  in  his  house  on  Still  Hill  for  meetings,  and  a  class  was 


SOUTH    GLASTONBURY    CHURCH. 

organized  some  time  before  1826.  Lorenzo  Dow,  J.  N.  Maffitt  and 
others  preached  there.  Meetings  were  also  held  at  the  house  of 
Edward  Goodrich,  where  Shipley  W.  Wilson  and  others  preached, 
before  the  church  was  built. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


155 


In  1826  South  Glastonbury  formed  a  part  of  the  Manchester  cir- 
cuit, which  was  composed  of  South  Glastonbury,  Wassuc,  Neipsic, 
North  Street,  Middle  District,  Maryborough  and  East  Hartford. 

In  the  minutes  of  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  at  Manchester, 
June,  1 826,  appears  the  names 
of  Edward  Hyde,  P.  E. ;  Aa- 
ron Lummis  and  Hectoi 
Bronson,  preachers;  Josiah 
Loomis,  Allen  Parsons,  Hen- 
ry P.  Sumner,  local  preach- 
ers; Joel  Hills,  Rooney 
Hanks,  Horton  Case,  stew- 
ards; Caleb  Cook,  Eli  Pitkin, 
Darius  Drake,  John  P.  White, 
Edmund  Beebe,  Jonathan 
Fuller,  Ephraim  Gurley, 
Lewis  Foster,  Walter  Tilden, 
Benjamin  Paine,  Gordon  Barrows,  class  leaders;  Harvey  Tucker  and 
Samuel  Leach,  exhorters. 

In  1828  a  church  was  built  of  brick,  which  still  stands,  and  is 
used  as  a  place  of  worship  by  the  Methodists  at  the  present  time.  There 
was  a  large  revival  in  1839,  when  A.  C.  Wheat  was  pastor.  Thirty-two 


SOUTH  GLASTONBURY  PARSONAGE. 


REV.  D.  C.  HOUSE.  MRS.  D.  C.  HOUSE. 

united  with  the  church.  In  1843  tne  Millerite  doctrine  found  many  to 
accept  it,  some  of  whom  were  the  leading  members.  Disputes  arose 
which  led  to  estrangement  and  separation,  and  which  culminated  in 
closing  the  house  of  worship  in  1859.  It  remained  closed  for  ten 
years.  In  1869  it  was  reopened,  and  Rev.  Mellen  Howard  was  the 


156 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


stationed  pastor.  He  had  a  prosperous  two  years'  term  of  service.  A 
revival  which  occurred  at  this  time  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  thirty 
people.  In  1874  a  house  was  bought  for  a  parsonage,  situated  on  a 
piece  of  land  nearly  opposite  the  church.  The  parsonage  was  burned 
in  1878,  and  a  new  one  built  in  the  same  place  in  the  same  year. 
Charles  Shipman  gave  $1,000  towards  buying  the  first  parsonage 
property,  and  afterwards  gave  $1,000  to  be  used  as  a  fund,  the  interest 
to  be  used  for  the  support  of  preaching  in  the  M.  E.  Church.  There 
was  a  revival  in  1878,  when  Lorenzo  Dow  Bentley  was  stationed  there. 
He  was  assisted  by  Miss  Clark,  the  singing  evangelist. 

The  stopping  of  the  cotton  mills,  which  have  remained  idle  for 
about  eight  years,  together  with  deaths  and  removals  and  other  causes, 


WILLIAM  W.  ABBEY. 


MRS.  WANTON  CHAPMAN. 


have  so  reduced  the  membership  of  the  church  and  congregation  that 
they  are  now  unable  to  sustain  a  pastor,  and  are  left  to  be  supplied  by 
a  local  preacher. 

In  1831  John  E.  Risley  and  Ephraim  Scott  were  appointed  to 
Manchester,  which  included  Glastonbury.  The  first  mention  of  Glas- 
tonbury as  an  appointment  is  in  1832,  which  included  South  Glaston- 
bury. The  first  mention  of  South  Glastonbury  as  an  appointment  is 
in  1839. 

PASTORS. 


1831. 
1832. 
1833- 


John  E.  Risley 
Ephraim  Scott 
John  E.  Risley 
Philo  Hawkes 
Reuben  Ransom 
P.  Greene 


1834. 
1835. 

1836. 
1837. 

J.  Shepard 
J.  Shepard 
S.  Leonard 
Supplied 
Elias  C.  Scott 
George  May 

SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


157 


1838. 


1839. 
1840. 
1841. 

1842. 

1843- 
1844. 
1845-56. 

1847- 

1848-49. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

I853- 
1854- 

1855. 
1856. 

1857. 
1858. 
1859. 


Thomas  W.  Giles  1860. 

Abijah  C.  Wheat  1861-62. 

Solomon  Cushman  1863. 

Abijah  C.  Wheat  1864-65. 

Henry  Torbush  1866-67. 

B.  M.  Walker  1868-69. 

L.  C.  Collins  1870. 

Supplied  1871. 

Mo?es  Stoddard  1872. 

Marvin  Leffingwell  1873-74. 

Erastus  Benton  1875. 

Moses  Chase  1876. 

Lorenzo  W.  Blood  1877-78. 

Daniel  Dorchester  1879-80. 

Warren  Emerson  1881. 

Supplied  1882. 

A.  M.  Allen  1883. 
Supplied  1884. 
George  S.  Chadbourn  1885-86. 

B.  M.  Walker  1887. 
Supplied  1888. 

Varnum  A.  Cooper  1889-97. 
James  A.  Kilbe 


Warren  Emerson 
Supplied 
Robert  Clark 
James  H.  Cooley 

E.  M.  Anthony 
Mellen  Howard 
T.  W.  Douglass 

F.  A.  Metcalf 
E.  L.  Latham 
E.  F.  Smith 
D.  J.  Griffin 
L.  D.  Bentley 
A.  W.  Paige 

C.  S.  Davis 
Supplied 
John  McVey 
Supplied 

J.  A.  Cole 

D.  G.  Ashley 
Supplied 

Virgil  W.  Mattoon 
D.  C.  House 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Wanton  Chapman,  W.  W.  Abbey,  B.  H.  Closson,  R.  H. 
Hollister,  Wilbur  Closson,  George  Patten. 

Stewards — W.  W.  Abbey,  Charlotte  Abbey,  B.  H.  Closson,  D.  A. 
Closson,  M.  J.  Chapman,  C.  E.  Hollister. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH  MANCHESTER,  CONN. 

Less  than  a  year  after  the  heroic  pioneer  of  New  England  Meth- 
odism, Jesse  Lee,  had  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Norwalk,  Conn., 
the  Rev.  George  Roberts  preached  the  "Methodist  Doctrine"  in  the 
house  of  Thomas  Spencer,  situated  on  the  Hartford  Road,  within  the 
limits  of  the  present  town  of  Manchester.  It  was  in  August  of  that 
year,  1790,  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Spencer,  that  this  church  was  formally 
organized,  thus  making  it  one  of  the  earliest  Methodist  churches  in 
New  England.  At  first  it  was  included  in  the  Hartford  circuit.  In 
1793  it  was  transferred  to  the  Tolland  circuit.  In  1826  it  became  the 
leading  station  on  the  Manchester  circuit.  For  several  years  the  hos- 
pitable home  of  Mr.  Spencer  afforded  the  place  of  meeting.  The  ser- 
mon was  sometimes  preached  in  the  yard  under  the  spreading  branches 


SOUTH   MANCHESTER  CHURCH. 

of  the  old  "Methodist  Elm,"  a  piece  of  which  is  carefully  preserved 
under  glass  in  the  church  as  a  valued  relic  of  her  early  days.  In  1794 
Bishop  Asbury  records  having  preached  in  "a  neat  house"  which  had 
been  erected  near  the  home  of  Mr.  Spencer,  being  "forty  by  thirty-four 
feet,  having  two  stories,  a  broad  aisle  and  a  gallery."  In  those  days 
the  building  was  regarded  as  quite  a  pretentious  meeting-house  for  the 
Methodists.  The  people  came  from  the  surrounding  towns  to  hear  the 
most  distinguished  preachers  of  early  Methodism,  including  Bishop 
Asbury,  Jesse  Lee,  George  Pickering,  John  Broadhead,  George  Rob- 
erts, Timothy  Merritt  and  Elijah  Hedding. 

In  1822  a  more  central  location  was  desired,  and  a  piece  of  land 
was  purchased  by  Ephraim  Willis  and  others  about  three  miles  east 
of  the  Spencer  house,  near  the  centre  of  the  town.  A  larger  building 
was  erected  upon  this  spot,  being  fifty  by  thirty-eight  feet,  having  two 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


159 


stories  and  a  tower.  The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Stocking,  who  had  been 
stoned  by  a  lawless  mob  in  another  town  for  his  Methodism,  preached 
the  sermon  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone.  The  building  as  it  stood 
for  many  years  at  the  Centre  is  remembered  by  many  who  are  now 
living.  Services  were  held  in  the  Spencer  street  building  somewhat 
regularly  until  1827,  being  supplied  by  the  ministers  from  the  Centre 
Church.  The  building  was  sold  in  1841  to  Joseph  Case  for  $30,  and 
was  burned  in  1843.  A 
piece  of  a  charred  timber 
is  preserved  in  the  present 
church  as  a  relic  of  the  old 
Spencer  Street  Church ; 
also  the  Trustees'  bill  of 
sale. 

While  at  the  Centre 
our  church  was  highly  fa- 
vored in  the  character  of 
its  preachers.  Its  growth 
was  but  natural  under  such 
leaders  as  the  Rev.  George 
Pickering,  Daniel  Ostran-  INTERIOR  SOUTH  MANCHESTER  CHURCH, 
der,  Benjamin  Lambord, 

Salmon  Winchester,  Moses  Fifield,  D.  L.  Fletcher,  John  E.  Risley, 
Van  Rensselaer  Osborn,  Ralph  W.  Allen,  Benjamin  C.  Phelps  and 
Sanford  Benton. 

In  1851  the  population  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  had  so  in- 
creased that  77  members  withdrew  from  the  church  at  the  Centre  and 
formed  the  North  Church,  whose  splendid  record  of  good  works  has 
fully  sustained  the  character  of  the  old  church.  One  hundred  and 
twenty-three  members  were  left  at  the  Centre,  where  they  continued  to 
worship  until  1853,  when  it  was  considered  advisable  to  again  change 
the  location  of  the  church  and  erect  a  more  commodious  building. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  the  "young  and  enthusiastic"  Rev. 
Henry  S.  White  that  plans  were  proposed  to  purchase  the  present 
property,  which  is  admirably  located  about  one  mile  south  of  the 
Centre,  on  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  the  Hartford  road.  The 
Building  Committee,  consisting  of  Nathaniel  Keeney,  Russell  Eld- 
ridge,  Woodruff  Keeney,  William  G.  Bidwell  and  Henry  E.  Rogers, 
contracted  for  a  building  to  cost  about  $10,000.  On  November  9, 
1854,  the  bell  pealed  out  its  welcome  to  the  dedication  of  this,  the 
third  house  of  worship.  Rev.  Robert  H.  Hatfield,  brother  of  the 
pastor,  Rev.  Edward  H.  Hatfield,  preached  the  sermon.  There  are 


i6o 


SOUl-'ENIR  HISTORY. 


but  eight  persons  now  members  of  the  church  whose  names  were  on 

the  record  at  that  time.     Messrs.  Henry  E.  Rogers  and  William  G. 

Bidwell  were  especially  active  in  securing  the  present  church  property. 

The  Cheney  brothers  have  always  been  liberal  in  their  aid  to  all  mate- 
rial improvements  in  the  church,  as 
also  the  Case  brothers,  who  have 
been  closely  identified  with  all  its  in- 
terests. 

In  1860  the  Rev.  Sanford  Benton 
returned  for  his  second  pastorate. 
It  was  during  this  pastorate  that 
an  interesting  lyceum  was  formed, 
which  may  have  been  the  incep- 
tion of  the  present  well  organized 
force  of  young  people.  Mrs.  Abigail 
K.  Benton,  his  widow,  is  a  be- 
loved member  of  the  church.  Dur- 
ing the  crucial  trial  of  the  war  the 
church  was  faithfully  served  by 
Rev.  Edwin  S.  Stanley.  At  that  time 

the  parsonage  was  built,  largely  by  the  labor  of  the  pastor  himself. 

Mr.  Stanley  is  living  at  Highland  Park,  attending  the  services  when 

able,  and  always  a  comfort  to  the  pastor  of  the  church. 

The   Rev.    Elisha   B.    Bradford  followed,  and   led   the   work  of 

remodeling  the  vestries  and  paying  a  debt  which  was  on  the  parsonage 


REV.  J.   S.   WADSWORTH. 


SOUTH  MANCHESTER  PARSONAGE. 

property.  The  pastorate  of  Augustus  W.  Kingsley  was  a  very  popular 
one,  and  left  the  church  materially  strengthened.  Henry  H.  Martin 
and  Walter  Ela  left  permanent  impressions  of  their  faithful  labors. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


161 


Rev.  Henry  D.  Robinson  is  remembered  as  an  "instructive  preacher" 
and  a  "sympathetic  pastor."  Living  himself  upon  "The  Spiritual  Up- 
lands," he  led  the  church  to  higher  plains.  During  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  John  C.  Gowen  more  than  $1,300  was  expended  upon  the  prop- 
erty. Rev.  Eben  Tirrell  strengthened  the  church  in  all  directions,  108 
persons  being  received  from  probation,  among  whom  were  many  of  the 
most  valuable  members  to-day.  Mr.  Tirrell  was  succeeded  by  the 
"courteous,  sympathetic,  finely  symmetrical  Dudley  P.  Leavitt,"  who 
remained  five  years.  The  influence  of  the  Church  was  felt  throughout 
the  community. 

A  very  popular  pastorate  of  three  years  was  that  of  Rev.  James 
M.  Taber,  during  which  a  number  of  improvements  were  made  in  the 


E.   L.  G.   HOHENTHAL, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


W.   E.   KEITH, 
Epworth   League   President. 


church  property.  The  building  was  enlarged  and  the  vestries  remod- 
eled at  a  cost  of  about  $3,000.  Also  at  this  time,  largely  through  the 
efforts  of  Miss  Maytie  A.  Case,  a  fine-toned  pipe  organ  was  placed  in 
the  rear  of  the  pulpit  at  a  cost  of  over  $3,000,  being  the  finest  organ  in 
the  town. 

This  church  had  the  pleasure  and  the  honor  to  entertain  the  last 
session  of  the  Annual  Conference,  which  proved  of.  great  blessing  to 
the  community.  During  the  present  pastorate  146  persons  have  been 
received  into  full  membership,  and  145  on  probation. 

At  each  monthly  Communion  these  accessions  have  occurred  with 
but  one  or  two  exceptions. 

There  are  396  persons  in  full  membership.  The  Sunday  School 
numbers  446.  The  Epworth  and  Junior  Leagues  are  thoroughly 
organized  and  doing  excellent  work. 


1 62 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  looking  over  the  "Records  of  a  Hundred  Years,"  a  carefully 
compiled  history  of  this  church,  by  Miss  S.  Adelaide  Benton,  it  is  seen 
to  have  been  a  church  of  large  importance,  as  it  has  preached  the 
great  moral  reforms  with  no  uncertain  sound,  giving  generously  to  the 
benevolent  causes  of  the  church  and  maintaining  as  its  chief  charac- 
teristic a  deeply  spiritual  life.  Revivals  have  occurred  in  almost  every 
pastorate. 

PASTORS. 


1790.  Nathaniel  B.  Mills  1814. 

1791.  Lemuel  Smith 

Menzies  Rainor  1815. 

1792.  Hope  Hull 

George  Roberts  1816. 

Fredus  Aldridge 
J793-          Joseph  Lovell  1817. 

1794.  Lemuel  Smith  1818. 
George  Pickering 

1795.  Christopher  Spry  1819. 
Nicholas  Snethen 

1796.  Evans  Rogers  1820. 
Thomas  Cooper 

1797-98.     Lawrence  McCombs        1821. 

1799.  Daniel  OsLrancler 

1800.  Abner  Wood  1822. 

1801.  Augustus  Jocelyn 

Henry  Evans  1823. 

1802.  Elijah  Batchelor 
Alexander  McLane          1824. 

1803.  Augustus  Jocelyn 

Elijah  Batchelor  1825. 

1804.  John  Gove 

1805.  Noble  W.  Thomas 
Benjamin  P.  Hill  1826. 

1806.  John  Tinkham 
Theophilus  Smith  1827. 

1807.  Hollis  Sampson 
Greenleaf  R.  Norris         1828. 

1808.  Benjamin  F.  Lambord 
Elisha  Streeter  1829. 

1809.  Benjamin  P.  Hill 

William  Hinman  1^30. 

1810.  Joel  Steel 

Samuel  Cutler  1831. 

1811.  Philip  Munger 

Robert  Arnold  1832-33. 

1812.  Elias  Marble  1834-35. 
Thomas  W.  Tucker          1836. 

1813.  Edward  Hyde  1837-38. 
Benjamin  Sabin                 1839-40. 


Joel  Winch 
Job  Pratt 
William  Mason 
Orin  Roberts 
Salmon  Winchester 
Nathan  Paine 
Salmon  Winchester 
Leonard  Bennett 
Hezekiah  Davis 
Leonard  Bennett 
Francis  Dane 
Ebenezer  Blake 
Theophilus  Smith 
Ebenezer  Blake 
Daniel  Dorchester 
Joel  W.  McKee 
Allen  Barnes 
Joseph  Ireson 
John  W.  Case 
Moses  Fifield 
Joseph  Ireson 
Elisha  Frink 
Benjamin  F.  Lambord 
Milton  French 
Aaron  Lummis 
Hector  Bronson 
Ira  M.  Bidwell 
Caleb  D.  Rogers 
D.  L.  Fletcher 
Horace  Moulton 
Heman  Perry 
George  Stone 
Heman  Perry 
Ephraim  Scott 
John  E.  Risley 
Ephraim  Scott 
Hezekiah  Ramsdell 
Salmon  Hull 
Van  Rensselaer  Osborn 
Ralph  W.  Allen 
Sanford  Benton 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  j63 

1841-42.  Richard  Livesey  1862.  James  M.  Worcester 

1843.  Charles  Noble  1863-64.  Edwin  S.  Stanley 

1844.  Pardon  T.  Kenney           1865-67.  Elisha  B.  Bradford 
1845-46.  Van  Rensselaer  Osborn  1868-70.  Augustus  W.  Kingsley 
1847-48.  Benjamin  C.  Phelps         1871-72.  Henry  H.  Martin 
1849-50.  Merritt  P.  Alderman        1873.  John  Gray 

1851-52.  John  Cooper  1874-76.  Walter  Ela 

1853.  Henry  S.  White  1877-79.  Henry  D.  Robinson 

1854-55.  Edward  H.  Hatfield  1880-82.  John  C.  Gowan 

1856.  '  Thomas  Ely  1883-85.  Eben  Tirrell 

1857.  Richard  Livesey  1886-90.  Dudley  P.  Leavitt 

1858.  Horace  Atwater  1891-93.  James  M.  Taber 

1859.  William  Kellen  1894.  Julian  S.  Wadsworth 
1 860-6 1.  Sanford  Benton 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Local  Preachers — William  E.  Keith,  William  McCreery. 

Trustees — John  Loomis,  President;  George  H.  Gould,  Robert 
N.  Stanley,  Secretary;  F.  Dwight  Hale,  Edwin  T.  Carrier,  E.  L.  G. 
Hohenthal,  Walter  Couch,  George  M.  Barber.  Charles  H.  Bloom. 

Stezvards — Mason  Agard,  Sanford  M.  Benton  (R.  S.),  George  D. 
Keith,  Edward  E.  Agard,  Edward  C.  Stanley,  George  W.  Ferris,  Wil- 
liam H.  Franklin,  George  Davidson,  Florilla  M.  Stanley,  Mary  M. 
Benton,  Esther  Abbey,  Marietta  S.  Case,  Carrie  E.  Case. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  E.  L.  G.  Hohenthal;  Assistant 
Superintendents,  William  E.  Keith,  Wesley  B.  Porter,  Maria  R.  In- 
galls,  Mary  E.  Hunt;  Secretary,  Howard  I.  Taylor;  Assistant  Secre- 
tary, George  E.  Keith;  Treasurer,  Edward  E.  Agard;  Librarians, 
Thomas  Trotter,  Everett  Brainard,  George  Hunt;  Superintendent  of 
Home  Department,  E.  E.  Agard. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  William  E.  Keith;  Spiritual  Depart- 
ment, Maria  R.  Ingalls;  Mercy  and  Help  Department,  Lillian  Frank- 
lin; Literary  Department,  Edward  E.  Agard;  Social  Department,  Eva 
C.  Malkin;  Secretary,  Charles  W.  Fitch;  Treasurer,  Clinton  B. 
Nichols;  Superintendent  of  Junior  League,  Mrs.  Mae  Short  Wads- 
worth. 

Woman's  F.  M.  S. — President,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Benton. 

Woman's  H.  M.  S. — Mrs.  Marietta  S.  Case. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society — Mrs.  Mary  M.  Benton. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  STAFFORD  SPRINGS,  CONN. 

The  date  of  the  introduction  of  Methodism  into  Stafford  cannot 
be  determined  with  certainty.  Tradition  says  that  there  was  a  class  in 
the  town  in  1801.  Historic  references  by  a  Congregational  pastor 
shows  that  there  were  Methodists  in  the  town  in  1807.  In  1792  Hope 

Hull  was  preacher  in  charge  of 
the  old  Hartford  circuit;  and  it  is 
known  that  he  preached  at  least 
once  in  the  Congregational 
Church  on  West  Stafford  Hill. 
Probably  there  was  occasional 
preaching  from  that  time. 

Tangible  history  begins  in 
1818,  when  Orrin  Harwood  was 
appointed  leader  of  the  weak  class 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  town, 
known  as  the  Tray  Hollow  class, 
and  connected  with  the  Square 
Pond  Society.  From  that  time 
there  was  growth.  Week  day 
services  were  held,  sometimes  in 
his  house,  which  was  the  home  of 
Methodist  itinerants  and  the  centre  of  Methodist  interest  for  all  this  re- 
gion, and  sometimes  in  the  schoolhouse.  Mr.  Harwood  continued  an 
active  worker  in  the  church  till  the  close  of  his  earthly  life,  a  few  years 
ago,  when  he  lacked  only  two  weeks  of  being  a  hundred  years  old. 

In  1829  Horace  Moulton  began  to  hold  regular  Sunday  services 
in  the  old  Universalist  Church  on  West  Stafford  Hill,  being  the  first 
Methodist  preacher  to  hold  regular  Sunday  services  in  the  town.  A 
revival  the  previous  year  un- 
der Rev.  George  Stone  had 
raised  the  membership  to  for- 
ty and  rendered  this  move- 
ment possible.  Another  re- 
vival followed  the  inaugura- 
tion of  Sunday  services.  Dur- 
ing this  same  year  Mr.  Moul- 
ton held  a  service  in  the  red 
schoolhouse  near  the  home 
of  Parley  Converse,  being 
probably  the  first  Metho- 
list  service  ever  held  with-  STAFFORD  SPRINGS  PARSONAGE. 


STAFFORD  SPRINGS   CHURCH. 


SOU y EN  I R  HISTORY. 


165 


in  the  limits  of  the  present  borough  of  Stafford  Springs. 
He  left  an  appointment  for  his  associate,  Paul  Townsend,  and  under 
the  first  sermon  of  Mr.  Townsend  several  persons  were  converted.  A 
revival  followed,  and  a  class  of  forty  members  was  formed,  with  David 
Foskit  leader.  This  revival  seems  to  have  been  conducted  by  Revs. 
Moulton  and  Townsend,  although  Rev.  H.  S.  Ramsdell  was  then  in 
charge  of  Tolland  circuit,  with  which  Square  Pond  and  the  Stafford 
classes  were  connected,  and  the  others  were  his  associates.  Ramsdell 
was  then  25  years  old,  Mr.  Moulton  30  and  Mr.  Townsend  22. 

The  next  year  the  class  at  West  Stafford  Hill  was  separated  from 
the  class  at  Square  Pond  and  united  with  the  class  at  the  Springs,  the 


REV.  J.  I.  BARTHOLOMEW. 


MRS.  J.  I.  BARTHOLOMEW. 


two  forming  a  distinct  society  known  as  the  "First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Society  in  Stafford,"  but  still  connected  with  the  Tolland  circuit. 

In  1832  this  organization  became  legal,  and  a  chapel  30  by  40  feet 
was  built.  It  was  dedicated  in  February,  1833,  by  Rev.  Orange  Scott, 
Presiding  Elder.  The  revival  spirit  continued  and  many  were  added 
to  the  church. 

The  "great  revival"  in  1842-43,  under  the  labors  of  the  pastor, 
Warren  Emerson,  still  lingers  in  the  minds  of  our  older  members. 
One  lady  says  that  when  she  returned  from  school  at  Wilbraham  at 
that  time  it  seemed  as  though  everybody  had  been  converted. 

In  1845  tne  chapel  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  12  feet  to  its 
length  and  was  otherwise  improved.  At  the  same  time  a  Conference 
house  was  built  for  social  meetings. 

Another  revival  of  deep  interest  occurred  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  L.  C.  Collins,  in  1846-47,  adding  to  the  church  some  who  are  now 
among  its  most  valued  members. 


i66 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  1857,  Rev.  Erastus  Benton  pastor,  about  fifty  persons  pro- 
fessed conversion  in  a  revival. 

In  1862,  Paul  Townsend  again  pastor,  the  Conference  house 
was  moved  from  its  original  site  next  to  the  chapel,  both  being  half  a 
mile  away  from  the  site  of  the  present  church,  to  the  corner  of  West 
Main  and  High  streets,  in  the  village,  and  was  enlarged.  A  revival 
following  this  movement  greatly  strengthened  the  church.  The  de- 
mand for  larger  accommodations  and  a  more  central  location  led  to 
the  erection  of  a  new  church  in  1865,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  T. 
Benton.  The  lot  was  given  by  Julius  and  Orren  Converse;  the  build- 


S.    F.   MAIN, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


E.   A.  CLEVELAND, 
Epworth   League   President. 


ing  with  furnishings  cost  about  $20,000.  It  was  dedicated  February 
23,  1866,  by  Bishop  James,  the  only  Methodist  Bishop,  so  far  as 
known,  who  ever  set  foot  on  Stafford  soil. 

The  parsonage  was  built  in  1868-69  on  borrowed  money,  and  was 
paid  for  in  1879,  during  the  first  year  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  D. 
Towle.  During  the  second  year  of  this  pastorate,  in  anticipation  of  its 
semi-centennial  celebration,  the  church  was  extensively  improved  at  a 
cost  of  over  $7,000,  and  all  bills  were  paid. 

William  T.  Worth  was  the  first  pastor  after  the  erection  of  the 
present  building.  A  revival  began  during  the  winter  of  1867-68  and 
was  almost  continuous  throughout  his  pastorate;  123  were  received  on 
probation;  85  adults  were  baptized,  and  74  were  received  into  the 
church  from  probation.  William  McKendree  Bray,  appointed  pastor 
in  1869,  reports  a  revival,  with  30  probationers.  During  the  winter 
of  1872-73,  William  V.  Morrison  pastor,  there  were  about  40  professed 
inversions.  In  1874,  W.  H.  Stetson  pastor,  there  was  a  revival,  with 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


167 


100  conversions  reported.  During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Church, 
1 877-78,  "over  a  hundred  were  converted,  87  joined  the  class,  and  90 
joined  in  full  or  by  letter."  Since  then  there  has  been  no  general 
revival.  In  the  Conference  years,  beginning  April,  1879  and  April, 
1880,  E.  D.  Towle  pastor,  six  were  received  on  probation,  of  whom 
one  became  a  full  member.  In  1881  and  1882,  A.  P.  Palmer  pastor,  23 
on  probation,  of  whom  10  became  members;  1883-84,  J.  E.  Hawkins 
pastor,  18  probationers,  of  whom  15  became  members.  The  next  two 
and  a  half  years,  E.  M.  Taylor  pastor,  51  probationers,  32  became 
members.  The  next  thirteen 
months,  A.  E.  Drew,  pastor, 
32  probationers,  of  whom  27 
became  members.  From  Jan- 
uary, 1889,  to  April,  1892,  Ed- 
gar F.  Clark  pastor,  received 
26  on  probation,  19  became 
members;  1892-93,  Dr.  C.  E. 
Harris  pastor,  20  were  re- 
ceived on  probation,  of  whom 
17  have  become  members. 
During  the  present  pastorate, 
now  three  and  a  half  years 
long,  65  have  been  received 
on  probation,  of  whom  38 
have  become  members.  The 
present  membership  is  267, 
with  -13  probationers. 

The  Sunday  School  has  an 
average  attendance  of  about 
140,  and  is  doing  efficient 
work.  The  Woman's  Home 
Missionary  Society  and  the 
Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  organizations  of  this  church 
are  among  the  best  in  the  Conference.  The  Ladies  Aid  Society  is  alive 
and  active.  The  Epworth  League  and  Junior  League  are  represented 
here.  The  church  is  thoroughly  organized,  free  from  debt,  is  remark- 
ably harmonious  and  vigorously  at  work. 

Rev.  William  O.  Cady  and  Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  D.  D.,  of  the  New 
England  Southern  Conference 'both  received  local  preachers'  licenses 
when  members  of  this  church.  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Hodgson  of  the  Co- 
lumbia River  Conference  was  also  for  years  a  member  here.  Rev. 
W.  W.  Ellis,  who  served  with  great  acceptance  several  pastorates  on 
the  Norwich  district,  though  never  a  member  of  the  Conference,  was 
converted  and  religiously  developed  in  this  church. 


ORR1N  HARAVOOD. 


i68 


SOUI'ENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1790. 
1791. 

1792. 


1793- 
1/94- 

1795- 

1796. 
1798. 
1799. 


1801. 
1802. 
1803. 

1804. 
1805. 

1806. 
1807. 

1808. 
1809. 

iSio. 
1811. 
1812. 
1813. 
1814. 
1815. 
1816. 
1817. 


Nathaniel  B.  Mills 
Lemuel  Smith 
Menzies  S.  Raynor 
Hope  Hull 
George  Roberts 

F.  Aldriclge 
Joseph  Lovell 
Lemuel  Smith 
George  Pickering 
Christopher  Spry 
Nathaniel  Sneathing 
Evan  Rodgers 
Lawrence  M.  Combs 
Daniel  Ostrander 

:Abner  Wood 
Justus  Joseiyn 
Henry  Eames 
Elijah  Bacheler 
Alexander  McLean 
Augustus  Joseiyn 
Elijah  Bacheler 
John  Gove 
Noble  W.  Thomas 
Benjamin  Hill 
John  Tinkham 
Theophilus  Smith 
Hollis  Sampson 

G.  R.  Morris 
Benjamin  F.  Lombard 
Benjamin  P.  Hill 
William   Hinman 

Joel  Steele 
Samuel  Cutler 
Philip  Munger 
Robert  Arnold 
Elias  Marble 
Thomas  Tucker 
Edward  Hyde 
Benjamin  Sabin 
Joel  Winch 
Job  Pratt 
William  Marsh 
Orin  Roberts 
Salmon  Winchester 
Nathan  Paine 
Benjamin  Sabin 
B.  F.  Lambert 
L.  B.  Griffin 
Salmon  Winchester 


1821. 
1822. 
1823. 
1824. 

1825. 
1826. 

1827. 
1828. 
1829. 

1830. 
1831. 
1832. 
1833- 

1834- 
1835- 
1836. 

1837- 
1838. 
1839. 

1840. 


Leonard  Bennett 
Hezekiah  Davis 
Leonard  Bennett 
Francis  Dane 
Ebenezer  Blake 
Ebenezer  Blake 
Daniel  Dorchester 
Joel  W.  McKee 
Allen  Barnes 
Joseph  Ireson 
John  W.  Case 
Moses  Fifield 
Joseph  Ireson 
Seth  Cogswell 
Elisha  Frink 
Erastus  Otis 
Daniel  L.  Fletcher 
Erastus  Otis 
Rufus   Spaulding 
Heman  Perry 
George  Stone 
H.  S.  Ramsdell 
Paul  Townsend 
Horace   Moulton 
John  W.  Case 
Paul  Townsend 
H.  S.  Ramsdell 
Jefferson  Hascall 
Nehemiah   Rodgers 
Charles  Hayward 
Mosely  Dwight 
Hiram  Gregg 
W.  Wilcutt 
Ezra  Withey 
Lozien   Pierce 
L.  B.  Griffin 
Proctor  Marsh 
L.  B.  Griffin 
John  Caldwell 
Stephen   Gushing 
R.   D.   Easterbrooks 
James  Shepard 
Asa  Niles 
Asa  Niles 
Moses  Stoddard 
L.  C.  Collins 
Lorenzo  W.   Blood 
Lyman  Leffingwell 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


169 


1841. 

1842-43. 

1844. 

1845. 

1846-47. 

1848-49. 

1850-51. 

1852. 

1853-54. 

1855. 

1856-57. 

1858-59. 

1860-61. 

1862. 


Lorenzo  W.  Blood  1863-65. 

Edmund  A.  Standish  1866-68. 

Warren  Emerson  1869. 

William  H.  Richards  1870-71. 

William  Leonard  1872-73. 

Lorin  C.  Collins  1874-75. 

Franklin  Fisk  1876-78. 

James  Mather  1879-80. 

Lorin   C.   Collins  1881-82. 

William  S.  Simmons  1883-84. 

George  W.  Brewster  1885-87. 

Erastus  Benton  1887-88. 

Pardon  T.   Kenney  1889-91. 

Charles  Morse  1892-93. 

Paul  Townsend  1894. 


Josiah  T.  Benton 
William  T.  Worth 
Wm.   McKendree  Bray 
William  V.  Morrison 
William  H.  Stetson 
Joseph  H.  James 
Andrew  J.  Church 
E.  D.  Towle 
Albert  P.  Palmer 
J.  Ellis  Hawkins 
Edward  M.  Taylor 
Alfred  E.  Drew 
Edgar  F.  Clark 
Charles  E.  Harris 
James  I.   Bartholomew 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — President,  Orrin  Converse;  Secretary,  Alvarado  How- 
ard; Robbins  Patten,  Colonel  C.  H.  Warren,  G.  S.  Ellis,  Andrew 
Whiton. 

Exhortcr — Amos  N.  Nichols. 

Class  Leaders — Joseph  Clifford,  Charles  P.  Hodgson. 

Stewards— C.  F.  Harwood,  E.  K.  Taft,  F.  F.  Patten  (D.  S.),  R.  S. 
Converse,  J.  H.  Reed,  Esq.,  William  Lee,  G.  O.  Cleaveland,  E.  A. 
Cleveland,  L.  S.  Converse,  H.  F.  Parker,  B.  T.  Eaton  (R.  S.),  Thomas 
Johnson,  Artemas  Kellogg. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  S.  F.  Main;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Joseph  Clifford;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Ernest  Taft;  Libra- 
rian, Jesse  Clifford. 

Teachers — J.  H.  Reed,  Esq.;  L.  S.  Converse,  Miss  M.  A.  Francis, 
Joseph  Clifford,  C.  P.  Hodgson,  H.  F.  Parker,  Miss  G.  A.  Washburn, 
Amos  N.  Nichols,  Mrs.  Carrie  Orcutt,  Mrs.  J.  I.  Bartholomew,  Miss 
Florence  Washburn,  Miss  Alberta  Eaton,  Miss  Edith  Cushman,  J.  I. 
Bartholomew,  Mrs.  C.  G.  Ellis,  Mrs.  C.  P.  Hodgson,  Miss  Myrnie 
Washburn,  Miss  Clara  M.  Ellis. 

Epworth  League — President,  E.  A.  Cleveland;  First  Vice  Presi- 
dent, C.  P.  Hodgson;  Second  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Jeanie  Converse; 
Third  and  Fourth  Vice  President,  Miss  M.  A.  Sargeant;  Secretary, 
Clarence  D.  Walker;  Treasurer,  Miss  Maud  Underwood. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Mrs.  J.  I.  Bartholomew;  Presi- 
dent, Miss  Eugenia  C.  Lee;  First  Vice  President,  William  E.  Benton; 
Second  Vice  President,  Miss  Alice  Fitton;  Third  and  Fourth  Vice 
President,  George  Ellis;  Secretary,  Frank  Clifford;  Treasurer,  Miss 
Helen  Underwood. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SQUARE  POND,  CONN. 

One  of  the  oldest  societies  in  the  Conference  is  located  at  Crystal 
Lake,  formerly  called  Square  Pond,  Conn.  It  is  not  known  exactly 
when  Methodist  services  were  first  held  here,  but  doubtless  Jesse  Lee 
preached  at  the  Pond  very  soon  after  his  first  sermon  in  Tolland,  in 

April,     1790.     At    any    rate, 

Square  Pond  was  included  in 
the  old  Hartford  Circuit 
when  it  was  formed  in  Octo- 
ber, 1798.  Nathaniel  B.  Mills 
was  the  first  preacher  in 
charge. 

In  1791  Bishop  Asbury  re- 
cords in  his  journal  a  great 
revival  at  Hartford  Circuit. 
He  writes:  "At  Tolland  and 
the  neighboring  villages  the 
THE  SQUARE  POND  CHURCH.  interest  was  especially  pro- 

found," and  he  estimates  that 

"on<:  hundred  and  fifty  were  converted  there."  One  of  these  villages 
near  Tolland  which  shared  the  great  revival  was  Square  Pond.  A  chapel 
was  built  and  dedicated  in  1792,  one  year  earlier  than  the  chapel  at 
Tolland  was  completed.  This  chapel  was  destroyed  by  fire  about 
thirty-five  years  later.  In  1834  a  lot  was  secured  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road  and  the  present  chapel  was  erected. 

For  many  years  Methodism  flourished  at  Square  Pond.  Among 
other  items  of  interest  we  find  that  a 
Methodist  camp-meeting  was  held 
here  in  1806.  The  Methodist  move- 
ment in  Stafford  was  at  first  a  class 
attached  to  the  Square  Pond  Society. 

In  the  first  half  of  this  century  a  di- 
vision arose  among  the  religious  peo- 
ple at  Square  Pond,  and  as  a  result 
an  Adventist  Church  was  organized 
and  a  chapel  built.  Wherever  the 
blame  lay,  the  division  was  unfortu- 
nate. The  little  community,  never 
large  enough  to  support  one  church 
properly,  was  unable  to  continue  even 
in  the  semblance  of  success  in  two 

HERBERT  A.  GLAZIER, 
In   spite  Of  the   earnest    ef-  Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


171 


forts  of  loyal  men  and  women,  with  faithful  pastors,  our  church  grew 
weaker  and  weaker.  In  the  early  fifties  it  appears  in  the  Conference 
minutes  as  one  of  the  appointments  left  to  be  supplied  by  the  Presiding 
Elder.  Since  1887  it  has  not  appeared  in  the  minutes  at  all.  For  some 
time  after  this  date  a  local  preacher,  Rev.  O.  E.  Thayer,  living  at 
Square  Pond,  held  regular  services. 

Finally  these  services  were  discontinued.  A  similar  fate  befell  the 
Adventist  Church,  and  for  some  years  the  two  chapels  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  road  have  stood  unused,  while  the  children  of  the  com- 
munity have  been  deprived  of  preaching  and  Sunday  School  privileges. 
In  June,  1897,  Presiding  Elder  George  H.  Bates  attached  Square 
Pond  Church  to  the  Stafford  Springs  charge,  J.  I.  Bartholomew  pastor. 
Preaching  services  were  held  June  27,  with  an  attendance  of  65. 
Since  then  preaching  services  have  been  held  twice  a  month  on  Sunday 
afternoons.  The  average  attendance  during  the  summer  was  over  70. 
Since  then  (up  to  January  23,  1898)  about  50.  July  4  a  Sunday  School 
was  organized,  and  it  is  doing  good  work.  Trustees  have  been  elected, 
and  a  Quarterly  Conference  held.  The  ladies  have  formed  an  Aid 
Society,  and  have  furnished  lights  for  the  church  and  built  new  horse 
sheds  to  take  the  place  of  the  old  ones,  which  were  completely  decayed. 
All  bills  are  paid.  The  people  of  all  denominations  are  working  to- 
gether harmoniously  and  enthusiastically.  At  this  writing  a  revival 
is  in  progress. 


PASTORS 

1790.  Nathaniel  B.  Mills  1805. 

1791.  Lemuel  Smith 

M.  S.  Raynor  1806. 

1792.  Hope  Hull 

George  Roberts  1807. 

F.  Aldridge 

J793-          Joseph  Lovell  1808. 

1794.  Lemuel  Smith  1809. 

George  Pickering 
T795-  Christopher  Spry  1810. 

Nathaniel  Sneathing 
1796.          Evan  Rogers  1811. 

1798.  Lawrence  McCombs 

1799.  Daniel  Ostrander  1812. 

1800.  Abner  Wood 

1801.  Justin  Joselyn  1813. 
Henry  Eames 

1802.  Elijah  Bacheler  1814. 
Alexander  McLean 

1803.  Augustus  Joselyn  1815. 
Elijah  Bacheler 

1804.  John  Gove 


Noble  W.  Thomas 
Benjamin  Hill 
John  Tinkham 
Theophilus  Smith 
Hollis  Sampson 
G.  R.  Morris 
Benj.  F.  Lombard 
Benjamin  P.  Hill 
William  Hinman 
Joel  Steele 
Samuel  Cutler 
Philip  Munger 
Robert  Arnold 
Elias  Marble 
Thomas  Tucker 
Edward  Hyde 
Benjamin   Sabin 
Joel  Winch 
Job  Pratt 
William  Marsh 
Orin  Roberts 


172 

SOUI'ENIR 

HISTORY. 

i8i6. 

Salmon  Winchester 

1837- 

S 

Nathan  Paine 

R 

1817. 

Benjamin  Sabin. 

1838. 

Ji 

S.  Winchester 

A 

1818. 

Leonard  Bennett 

1839. 

L 

Hezekiah  Davis 

A 

1819. 

Leonard  Bennett 

]V 

Francis  Dane 

1840. 

L 

1820. 

Ebenezer  Blake 

L 

1821. 

E.  Blake 

1841. 

L 

Daniel   Dorchester 

E 

1822. 

Joel  W.  McKee 

1842. 

E 

Allen  Barnes 

G 

1823. 

Joseph  Ireson 

1843- 

C 

John  W.  Case 

J 

1824. 

Moses  Fifield 

1844. 

L 

J.  Ireson 

A 

Seth  Cogswell 

1845-46. 

C 

1825. 

Elisha  Frink 

1847- 

J' 

B.  F.  Lambert 

1848-49. 

B 

L.  B.   Griffin 

1850.   ' 

V 

1826. 

Erastns  Otis 

1851-52- 

C 

Daniel  L.  Fletcher 

1853-54. 

Z 

1827. 

Erastns  Otis 

1855- 

E 

Rnfus  Spaulding 

1856-57- 

V 

1828. 

Heman  Perry 

1858. 

F 

George  Stone 

1859. 

J< 

1829. 

H.  S.  Ramsdell 

1862. 

Is 

P.  Townsend 

1863. 

G 

H.  Moulton 

1864. 

E 

1830. 

John  W.  Case 

1865. 

G 

P.  Townsend 

1866. 

V 

1831. 

H.  S.  Ramsdell 

1867. 

I, 

Jefferson  Hascall 

1868-70. 

L 

1832. 

Nehemiah  Rogers 

1871. 

E 

Charles  Hayward 

V 

1833- 

Moseley  Dwight 

1872. 

E 

Hiram  Gregg 

1873. 

IN 

W.  Willcutt 

1874. 

C 

1834- 

Lozien  Pierce 

1875-76. 

£ 

1835- 

L.  B.  Griffin 

1882-83. 

C 

Proctor  Marsh 

1885.   * 

J 

1836. 

L.  B.  Griffin 

1886. 

J 

John   Calchvell 

1897. 

J 

Stephen   Gushing 
R.  D.  Easterbrooks 
James  Shepard 
Asa  Niles 
L.  C.  Collins 
Asa  Niles 
Moses  Stoddard 
L.  W.  Blood 
Lyman  Leffingwell 
L.  W.  Blood 
Edmond  A.  Standish 
E.  A.  Standish 
C.  W.  Turner 

C.  W.  Turner 
John  Standish 
Israel  Sherman 
Abraham   Holway 
Charles  Morse 
John  B.  Hunt 
Benjamin  M.  Walker 
W.  W.  Kurd 
Charles  Dixon 

Ziba  Loveland 
E.  Strobridge 
William  Phillips 
Frederic  C.  Newell 
Joseph  Smith 
Nathan  F.  Colver 
George  Burnham 

D.  L.  Brown 
George  D.  Boynton 
William  Dixon 

I.  B.  Fobes 
Leonard  G.   Goodell 

E.  L.  Latham 
William  Dixon 
E.  L.  Latham 
Nelson  Goodrich 
O.  E.  Thayer 

H.  H.  Arnold 
O.  E.  Thayer 
J.  B.  Ackley 
J.  O.  Dodge 
J.  I.  Bartholomew 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — S.  F.  Mains,  President;  H.  A.  Glazier,  Secretary;  E.  H. 
Dimock,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Newell,  Dennison  Baker,  John  D. 
Fletcher. 

Stewards — George  W.  Newell,  Dennison  Baker,  Armenia 
Fletcher,  Adelia  Dimock.  Josephine  Glazier  (R.  S.). 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Herbert  A.  Glazier. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  STAFFORDVILLE,  CONN. 
The  year  1847  found  a  few  faithful-Wesleyan  Methodists  in  and 

about  the  village  of  Staffordville,  Conn.  These  people,  greatly  desiring 

a  regular  preaching  service  in  their  midst,  succeeded  in  securing  the 

services  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton.    This  minister  remained  but  one  year, 

and  was  followed   in    1848  by   the 

Rev.    Mr.    Bevins,    who    laid    the 

foundation    of   Methodist   doctrine 

and  polity   during  a    pastorate    of 

three  years.     The  services  were  at 

that  time  held  in  a  hall  in  the  upper 

part  of  the  public  school  building. 
After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Bevins 

in   1851,   the   society   did    not  feel 

able  ro  support  a  minister,  and  no 

regular  preaching  service  was  held 

for  the  space  of  about  nine  years. 

However,    at    times    during    this 

period    class    meetings    were    held 

at  the  residence  of    Mr.    Ephraim 

Hall,  and  were  led  by  Mr.  Nathan 

Agard. 

In  the  meantime,    some    members  of  the  Methodist    Episcopal 

Church  at  Wales,  Mass.,  moved  into  Staffordville.    These  persons  were 

natui  ally  anxious  to  have  a  preaching  service,  and,  as  a  result,  an  eccle- 
siastical society  was  formed,  whose  object  was  to  maintain  "the  cause 

of  good  order  and  religion  in  the  community."    This  was  accomplished 

in  1858. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society,  held  on  December  27th  of  that  year, 

it  was  voted  to  build  a  church,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  for  that 

purpose.  The  said  committee 
consisted  of  William  H.  Reed, 
Ephraim  Hall  and  Caleb 
Faulkner.  At  a  later  meeting 
it  was  decided  to  locate  the 
building  in  Staffordville,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  public 
road,  leading  from  the  above- 
named  village  to  Furnace 
Hollow. 

The  work  of  erection  was 
THE  STAFFORDVILLE  PARSONAGE,      soon  begun.    But  the  building 


THE     STAFFORDVILLE     CHURCH. 


174  .   SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

of  a  suitable  house  of  worship  was  no  easy  task.  Material  and  money 
must  be  procured.  The  financial  difficulty,  especially,  was  very  great, 
and  lor  a  time  it  seemed  well-nigh  impossible  to  obtain  the  necessary 
r--eans.  Yet  God,  who  never  forgets,  who  never  fails  those  who  trust 
Hun,  opened  a  way,  and  help  came. 

Opposition  also  was  not  wanting.  Yet  this  served  but  to  make 
the  determination  stronger,  and  to  inspire  the  faithful  with  renewed 
zeal. 

In  April,  1860,  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  minister  ever  appoint- 
ed to  a  Staffordville  charge  arrived,  and  took  upon  him  the  cares  and 
responsibilities  of  the  new  field.  This  minister  was  the  Rev.  James 
Geratt. 

A  parsonage,  directly  opposite  the  church,  was  purchased  in  1866. 


REV.  C.  H.  VAN  NATTER. 


MRS.  C.  H.  VAN  NATTER. 


It  was  in  this  building,  then  used  as  a  hall,  that  the  services  were  held 
during  the  erection  of  the  church  building. 

At  times  during  the  subsequent  history  of  the  church  the  society 
has  had  a  hard  struggle  for  existence.  The  woolen  mills,  the  only 
means  of  livelihood,  often  closed.  Perhaps  the  year  just  closing  (1896) 
has  been  the  hardest  one  of  all.  And  yet,  in  spite  of  the  many  adverse 
circumstances,  the  church  has  had  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity. 

During  the  pastorate  of  H.  D.  Adams  (1891-95),  the  church  was 
repaired  and  beautified,  and  an  alcove  added  for  the  use  of  the  choir. 
These  improvements  help  to  make  a  pleasant  house  of  worship.  Also 
an  addition  was  built  on  the  parsonage,  thus  making  that  edifice  more 
comfortable  and  convenient. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


175 


PASTORS. 


1860. 

1861. 

1862-63. 

1864-65. 

1866-67. 

1868-69. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872-73. 

I874-75- 
1876. 


James  Geratt 
Francis  H.  Brown 

B.  M.  Walker 
L.  E.  Dunham 
Nelson   Goodrich 
D.  L.  Brown 

J.  W.  Fitch 
G.  W.  Winchester 
Merrick  Ransom 
William  Tnrkington 

C.  Hammond 


1877-79.     L-  W.  Blood 
1880-81.     James   Tregaskis 
E.  M.  Anthony 
J.  J.  Cooper 
Samuel  McKeown 
W.  C.  Newell 
T.  Wallis 
G.  W.  Elmer 
1800.          F.  C.  Newell 
1891-95.     H.  D.  Adams 
1896.  "        C.  H.  Van  Natter 


J882. 

1883-84. 

1885-86. 

1887-88. 

1889. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Stezvards— Mr.  S.  B.  Amadon,  Mr.  Henry  Butterfield,  Mr.  C.  N. 
Smith,  Mr.  Frank  Bowden,  Mr.  C.  F.  Williams,  Air.  J.  B.  Hamilton, 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Booth,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Amadon. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Rev.  C.  H.  Van  Natter;  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  Mr.  S.  B.  Amadon;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mr. 
F.  S.  Bowden;  Assistant  Secretary,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Peel;  Librarian,  Miss 
F.  L.  Booth;  Assistant  Librarians,  Mr.  William  Dunbar  and  Mr.  Mil- 
ton Smith. 

Teachers — Mr.  F.  S.  Bowden,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Leonard  Goodell, 
Mrs.  J.  H.  McCarthy,  Mr.  S.  B.  Amadon,  Mrs.  L.  Goodell,  Mrs.  C.  H. 
Van  Natter. 

Epworth  League — President,  Rev.  C.  H.  Van  Natter;  First  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Booth;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Grace 
Booth;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Van  Natter;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  M.  Hughes;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  F.  L. 
Booth. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  THOMPSONVILLE,  CONN. 
At  an  early  day  in  our  ecclesiastical  history  the  town  of  Enfield 
was  visited  by  Jesse  Lee,  the  apostle  of  Methodism  in  the  land  of  the 
Puritans,  and  here  he  gave  forth  the  word  of  life.  It  was  also  favored 
with  the  presence  and  preaching  of  Bishop  Ae-bury.  Here,  too,  other 
pioneers  of  Methodism  halted  to  preach,  when  passing  to  and  from 
other  points  in  New  England.  The  zealous  Asbury  seemed  to  regard 
it  as  an  unpromising  field,  perhaps  because  he  did  not  see  the  fruit 
immediately.  But  these  men  of  God  sowed  the  seed  and  trusted  that 
in  due  time  there  would  be  a  harvest,  and  they  were  not  doomed  to  dis- 
appointment. This  was  simply  the  beginning,  but  it  was  a  number  of 


THE     THOMPSONVILLE    CH 

years  before  the  societies  were  organized  which  now  live.  The  present 
sketch  has  to  do  with  the  origin  of  the  local  church.  In  1829  this  place 
was  a  mere  hamlet  known  as  the  "Head  of  the  Falls."  In  that  year  a 
class  was  formed,  but  it  was  like  a  flickering  lamp,  which  finally  died 
out.  Preachers  from  adjacent  charges  came  here  to  preach  occasion- 
ally, but  there  was  not  sufficient  encouragement  to  keep  it  up  as  a 
regular  preaching  place.  At  length  their  visits  almost  ceased,  the  class 
itself  became  extinct,  and  the  struggle  for  existence  had  a  fatal  termina- 
tion. But  in  the  year  1836  another  class  was  formed,  which  consisted 
of  eight  members,  and  it  also  experienced  varying  fortunes.  In  the  Fall 
of  1839  John  Howson,  a  local  preacher  from  England,  came  here  to 
live  and  labor.  After  he  came,  some  one  said  to  him,  "You  are  a  Chris- 
tian." In  his  frank  way  he  inquired,  "How  do  you  know  that?"  The 
inquiry  was  made  of  him,  "Are  you  not  a  preacher?"  Surprised  at 
being  found  out,  his  interrogative  was,  "Who  told  you  that?"  He  cast 
in  his  lot  with  this  little  company  of  believers,  and  the  accession  of  that 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


177 


earnest  and  zealous  Christian  man  resulted  in  its  growth  into  an  or- 
ganized church.  While  he  labored  for  the  bread  that  perisheth,  he  ren- 
dered faithful  service  in  the  cause  of  his  Master.  He  began  to  preach 


REV.    R.    D.    DYSON. 


MRS.  R.  D.   DYSON. 


in  the  Bell  schoolhouse,  and  it  became  a  place  of  interest  in  the  local 
history.  The  following  year,  John  Howson  entered  the  New  England 
Conference  as  a  traveling  preacher.  At  the  session  of  the  Conference 


HIRAM   OLDROYD, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


JOHN    T.    MOTTERSHEAD, 
Epworth   League   President. 


he. was  appointed  to  Enfield,  and  Thompsonville,  a  place  in  which  he 
felt  a  -deep  interest,  became  one  of  his  preaching  places.  He  preached 
here  regularly  on  Sunday  evenings,  and  sometimes  on  week  evenings, 


78 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


and  his  efforts  were  directed  to  the  development  of  Methodism.  ^While 
prosecuting  his  work  so  zealously,  he  was  hated  and  opposed.  But  he 
could  not  be  deterred,  for  he  had  in  him  the  spirit  of  the  fathers.  Nor 
did  he  toil  and  endure  in  vain.  Toward  the  close  of  that  year  this  ap- 
pointment was  visited  with  a  gra- 
cious revival,  and  a  church  was 
established.  At  the  session  ot 
Conference  in  1841,  Thompson- 
ville  was  set  off  as  an  independent 
station,  and  was  known  as  "En- 
field  West,"  and  John  Howson 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
work.'  He  was  the  most  suitable 

THOMPSOXVILLB  PARSONAGE.  Person  to  carry  on  the  work,  and 

during     that     year    the     church, 

under  his  leadership,  took  a  stride  forward.  Through  his  labors  the 
first  church  edifice  was  erected,  and  near  the  close  of  that  year  was 
dedicated  to  the  worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God.  Then  the 
young  and  growing  society  had  a  church  home,  and  was  cheered  by 
the  progressive  steps  that  were  .being  taken;  Previous  attempts  to 
plant  Methodism  here  had  virtually  failed,  but  under  his  efficient  labors 
it  took  root,  and  it  was  his  privilege  to  witness  its  growth  and  see  its 
usefulness.  At  the  ensuing  Conference  he  was  removed  to  another 
field  of  labor,  but  he  left  for  his  successor.  L.  W.  Blood,  a  young  and 
vigorous  society.  Mr.  Howson  may  then  be  regarded  as  the  father 
of  Methodism  in  Thompsonville.  He  has  built  two  churches  in  this 
place,  the  first  as  noted  above,  and  the 
second  by  his  influence  and  money, 
in  1884,  the  Rev.  John  Oldham  being 
the  active  agent  and  deserving  much 
praise  for  his  own  great  work  in  erect- 
ing- the  latter  edifice.  At  a  good  old 
age,  after  a  life  of  labor  and  great 
usefulness,  Mr.  Howson  was  called 
home  to  God.  It  is  fitting;  that  his 
memorial  tablet  should  occupy  a  con- 
spicuous place  in  the  church  he  loved 
and  for  which  he  labored  so  hard  and 
earnestly. 

The  parsonage  of  this  church  is 
one    of    the    finest    in    the    district,  c.  E.  PRICE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


179 


and  was  built  during  the  successful  pastorate  of  C.  A.  Stenhouse.  The 
pastorate  of  Rev.  James  Tregaskis  was  marked  by  a  good  spiritual  in- 
terest, and  some  valuable  church  improvements  were  made. 


1*40-41. 
1842. 

18-13-44. 

1845. 

1846-47. 

1848. 

1849-50. 

1851-52. 

1853- 

1854-55. 

1856-57- 

1858-59. 

1860-61. 

1862. 

1863-65. 


John  Howson 
L.  W.  Blood 
L.  W.  Blood 
Mr.  Rogers 
M.   P.  Alderman 
Robert  Allyn 
Anthony  Palmer 
G.  W.  Stearns 
John  Howson 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 
A.  H.  Robinson 
Samuel  Fox 
John  D.  King 
Erastus  Benton 
John  Lovejoy 
Sanford  Benton 
Robert    Parsons 


PASTORS. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869-71. 

1872-73. 

1874- 

1875-76. 

1877-79. 

1 880-8 1. 

1882-84. 

1885-86. 

1887-89. 

1890-92. 

1893-94. 

1895-96. 

1897. 


Richard    Donkersley 
C.  E.   Mandeville 
Ensign  McChesney 
John  Howson 
J.  T.  Benton 
Z.  S.  Haynes 
J.  D.  King 
R.  Povey 
W.  H.  Starr 
John  Oldham 
C.  W.  Holden 
C.  A.  Stenhouse 
Joseph  Hollingshead 
L.  B.  Codding 
James   Tregaskis 
Robert  D.  Dvson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Hiram  Oldroyd,  H.  W.  King,  C.  E.  Price,  Joseph  Old- 
royd,  William  Leggett. 

Stewards — C.  E.  Price,  Joseph  Oldroyd,  F.  T.  Hudson,  H.  W. 
King,  H.  L.  Abbe,  Robert  Davis,  W.  G.  Wiseman,  Hiram  Oldroyd. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Hiram  Oldroyd;  Assistant,  H.  W. 
King;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  H.  L.  Abbe;  Librarian,  C.  W.  Hudson. 

Teachers — F.  T.  Hudson,  Mrs.  E.  Bates,  Grace  Cope,  John  Mot- 
tershead,  Addie  Davis,  Sarah  Maylott,  H.  W.  King,  Fannie  Hayward, 
Georgia  Duncan,  Robert  Burgess,  W.  G.  Wiseman,  R.  D.  Dyson. 

Epivorth  League — President,  John  T.  Mottershead;  First  Vice- 
President,  Charles  W.  Hudson;  Second  Vice-President,  Sarah  May- 
lott; Third  Vice-President,  Grace  Cope;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Emily 
M.  Cope;  Secretary,  Harry  C.  Bartley;  Treasurer,  Horace  L.  Abbe. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  UNCASYILLE,  CONN. 

Uncasville  is  a  pretty  village  in  the  town  of  Montviile,  midway  be- 
tween Norwich  and  New  London,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Thames 
River,  and  on  the  Central  Vermont  Railroad,  the  station  being  called 
Montviile.  Three  steamers  on  their  way  to  the  famous  watering  places 

stop  here  daily  during  the  Summer 
season,  and  travelers  who  have  seen 
much  of  the  world  pronounce  this 
spot  one  of  "Nature's  ideal  picture 
galleries."  Uncasville  is  named 
from  the  famous  Indian  chief  Un- 
cas,  who,  with  his  powerful  tribe, 
the  Mohegans,  once  roamed  these 
lovely  hills  and  paddled  their  ca- 
noes along  this  beautiful  river  and 
its  coves. 

The  business  of  the  village  in- 
cludes the  well-known  Uncasville 
Cotton  Company,  a  large  and  well- 
managed  plant,  whose  spindles 
never  stop  in  hard  times.  Charles 
White,  agent  and  stockholder,  and 
Charles  Spaulding,  the  superinten- 
dent, are  officials  and  prominent 
supporters  of  the  church.  Henry 
Johnson  &  Sons  own  the  large  and 

prosperous  dye  works,  and  give  generous  support  to  the  church. 
About  one  mile  west  is  the  Pequot  Manufacturing  Company,  which  is 
also  of  help  to  the  church,  and  beyond  this  are  the  famous  bed-quilt 
mills  of  the  Palmer  Brothers.  Edward  Palmer  resides  at  Uncasviile. 
and  his  family  are  prominent 
and  faithful  workers  in  the 
church. 

The  first  Methodist  con- 
vert in  this  vicinity  was  Bet- 
sey Rogers,  in  1805,  under  the 
labors  of  Rev.  Nathan  Emory. 
She  became  the  wife  of  the 
late  Rev.  David  N.  Bentley  of 
Norwich.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a  long  struggle, 
which  finally  resulted  in  the 
formation  of  a  small  society  THE  UNCASVILLE  PARSONAGE. 


THE   UNCASVILLE    CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


181 


in  1829.  The  first  meetings  aroused  that  spirit  of  persecution 
commonly  encountered  by  the  early  Methodists.  Mrs.  Wheeler,  a 
Baptist  lady,  invited  a  Methodist  itinerant,  Reuben  Ransom  of  New 
London,  to  preach  at  her  house,  which  was  a  mill  tenement.  Mr. 
Hartshorn,  the  Superintendent,  forbade  the  meeting,  and  threatened  to 
discharge  all  the  help  who  attended.  In  this  emergency  Amos  Corn- 
stock,  who  owned  an  unused  weave  shop  near  the  turnpike  gate,  placed 
this  building  at  Ransom's  disposal.  The  first  meeting  was  a  memor- 
able one;  many  were  converted,  and  then  and  there  the  Uncasville 
Methodist  church  was  born.  The  next  year  (1830)  twenty  members 
were  added,  one  of  whom,  Mrs.  Harriet  Comstock,  bequeathed  at  her 
death  $  1,000  to  the  church.  The  first  church  building  was  dedicated  in 


REV.   W.   C.  NEWELL. 


MRS.    W.   C.    NEWELL. 


1835,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ezra  Withey,  and  cost  $1,000.  One 
of  the  most  memorable  revivals  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Albert 
M.  Allen,  in  1858-9.  Waterman  R.  Burnham,  the  well-known  Sunday 
School  worker,  joined  this  church  in  1862,  and  no  layman  lining  or 
dead  has  done  as  much  for  this  church  as  he.  Through  his  efforts  the 
present  beautiful  church  was  built  in  1872,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Robert  Clark,  who  saw  fifty-six  added  to  the  membership  and  a  new 
camp-meeting  house  dedicated.  The  new  church  cost  $13,000,  and 
with  its  beautiful  memorial  windows  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
churches  on  the  district.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  R.  D.  Dyson  a 
beautiful  chapel  was  added  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 

The  first  parsonage  was  built  in  1844  by  four  or  five  persons,  who 
rented  the  house  exclusively  to  Methodist  preachers.  In  1866  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  W.  Conant,  the  present  parsonage  was  pur- 


1 82 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


chased  for  $3,300.  Its  spacious  grounds  arc  beautified  with  trees  and 
shrubbery,  and  it  makes  an  attractive  home  for  the  preacher.  A  fine 
large  Richmond  furnace  was  added  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  F. 
Davis. 

The  entire  church  and  parsonage  property  is  without  debt,  and  the 
society  has  in  trust  $4,000,  left  by  Daniel  L.  Browning,  the  annual 


GEORGE   L.   NEWTON, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


HATTIE   L.    AVERY, 
Epworth  League  President. 


interest  of  which  goes  for  the  support  of  preaching.  Surely  the 
preacher  who  is  appointed  to  Uncasville  may  say  with  the  psalmist 
David,  "The  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant  places;  yea,  I  have  a 
goodly  heritage." 

PASTORS. 

1805.  Nathan  Emory  1834. 

1816.  Ebenezer  Blake  l&35- 

1819.  John  Newland  Maffitt      1836. 

1820-21.  Lewis  Bates 

1823.  Isaac  Jennison 

1824-29.  Reuben  Ransom 

1830.  '  Caleb  D.  Rogers  1838-39. 

1831.  Samuel  Heath  1840-41. 

1832.  Heman  Perry  1842. 
Mosely  D  wight  1^43. 
Thomas  Ely  1844. 
George  May  1845. 

J.  W.  McKee  1846-47. 

1833.  Caleb  D.  Rogers  1848-49. 
Asa  Miles  1850. 
Freeman  Nutting 

Jesse  B.  Dennison  1851-52. 


Hiram  Walden 
Ezra  Withey 
Freeman  Nutting 
Walter  Wilkie 
Walter  Wilkie 
John  Cadwell 
Henry  Torbush 
Erastus  Benton 
Edmund  A.  Standish 
Marvin  Leffingwell 
Lawton  Cady 
Lyman   Leffingwell 
George  H.  Winchester 
Lathrop  P.  Weaver 
William  Turkington 
John  Cooper 
Abel  Gardner 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


183 


1853- 

I854-55- 

I856-57- 

1858-59- 

1860. 

1861-62. 

1863-65. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868-70. 

1871-73. 


Joseph   Macreading  1874-75. 

George  W.  Rogers  1876-77. 

Henry  Mayo  1878-80. 

Caleb  S.  Sanford  1881-83. 

Albert  M.  Allen  1884-86. 

William  E.  Sheldon  1887. 

Theophilus  B.  Gurney  1888-89. 

L.  W.  Blood  1890-92. 

Henry  W.  Conant  J893-95. 

Albert  F.  Park  1896. 

Elisha  B.  Bradford  1897. 
Robert  Clark 


J.  T.  Benton 
F.  A.  Crafts 
Warren  A.  Luce 
Charles  S.  Morse 
Charles  A.  Stenhouse 
J.  C.  Gowan 
R.  D.  Dyson 
James  Tregaskis 
E.  J.  Ayres 
W.  F.  Davis 
Wilbur  C.  Newell 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Marvin  Ladd,  Charles  White,  George  Newton,  George 
Alexander,  Charles  Spaulding,  William  Fitch,  William  Brown,  Water- 
man R.  Burnham,  John  De  Forrest. 

Stewards — William  Fitch,  George  Alexander,  William  Brown, 
George  Newton,  Forrest  Perry,  Edwin  Avery,  John  De  Forrest,  Mrs. 
Edward  Palmer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Turner,  Mrs.  Lucy  Allyn. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  L.  Newton;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Alice  Burton;  Librarian,  Charles  Ramage;  Assist- 
ant, Louis  Newton. 

Teachers — The  Pastor,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Newell,  Mrs.  Katie  Bolles, 
Mrs.  John  De  Forrest,  Mrs.  Charles  Hope,  Mrs.  Alexander,  Miss 
Grace  Palmer,  Miss  Hattie  Avery,  Miss  Ellen  Lattimer,  Forrest  Perry, 
George  Alexander,  Mr.  Ramage,  Mrs.  Nobles,  A'liss  Hattie  Walden. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Hattie  L.  Avery;  Secretary, 
Miss  May  Grover;  Treasurer,  George  Alexander. 

Ladies'  Social  Union — President,  Mrs.  Lizzie  H.  Newell;  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Charles  Spaulding;  Secretary,  Mrs.  James  Morrison; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  George  L.  Newton;  Directors,  Mrs.  Charles  Hope, 
Mrs.  Reuben  Bolles. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  VOLUNTOWN,  CONN. 

Voluntown  is  situated  about  seven  miles  from  Jewett  City,  east  by 
southeast-.  Cotton  manufacturing  is  the  only  industry.  Population, 
about  500  in  the  village  proper  and  perhaps  700  in  the  town. 

Methodism  was  first  planted  here  in  1841.  In  September  of  that 
year  the  present  church  was  finished  and  the  land  deeded  by  Jonathan 

Branch  to  Isaac  W.  Thompson  and 
John  N.  Robinson,  both  of  Griswold, 
for  999  years.  The  seating  capacity  of 
the  church  is  200.  It  is  a  very  cosy 
and  comfortable  house  of  worship, 
still  heated  by  wood  stoves;  is  pro- 
vided with  an  organ  and  an  orchestra 
of  eight  pieces.  The  League  present- 
ed the  church  with  a  piano. 

The  church  records  up  to  1878 
have  been  lost.  Under  W.  W.  Ellis 
a  new  order  of  things  was  instituted, 
and  all  lines  of  work  were  greatly  im- 
proved. Messrs.  Dyson  and  Kirkby 
have  left  unmistakable  traces  of  labors 
which  were  blessed.  A  good  revival 
occurred  during  the  pastorate  of  M.  T.  Braley  and  several  were  con- 
verted. The  present  pastor,  W.  A.  Gardner,  has  been  wonderfully  suc- 
cessful in  building  up  the  church.  The  membership  has  doubled  and 
the  church  is  now  in  a  healthy  condition. 

Among  the  laity  Dr.  Young  should  be  mentioned  for  his  faithful 
labors.  John  A.  Whipple,  who  died  in  April  of  this  year  (1897),  be- 
queathed $3,000  to  this  church.  Our  present  chorister,  James  T.  Wil- 
bur, has  been  the  means  of  adding  to  the  interest  and  attendance  of 
our  services  by  his  faithfulness.  Our  Sunday  School  Superintendent 
is  now  laboring  in  the  thirteenth  year  in  that  capacity. 


REV.   W.   A.    GARDNER. 


1878.  W.  W.  Ellis 

1879.  S.  Amidon 
1880-81.  R.  D.  Dyson 
1882-83.  W.  Kirkby 

1884.  C.  S.  Morse 

1885.  Charles  F.  Sharpe 
1886-87.  G.  H.  Lamson 


PASTORS. 

1888-89. 
1890. 


M.  T.  Braley 
V.  W.  Mattoon 


1891-92.  J.  Q.  Adams 

1893-94.  D.  G.  Ashley 

1895.  T.  C.  Denman 

1896.  W.  A.  Gardner 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


185 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — J.  T.  Wilbur,  President;  E.  A.  Kinne,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer;  H.  F.  Button,  Ira  C.  Maine,  Henry  Greene  and  William 
Weeks. 

Stewards — J.  T.  Wilbur,  E.  A.  Kinne,  William  Weeks,  Herbert 
Knight,  Airs.  A.  Austin,  I.  W.  Kinne,  Susan  Weeks,  Mary  J.  Campbell 
and  Ada  Kinne. 

Class  Leaders — William  Johnston  and  Henry  Greene. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  Johnston. 

Ef  worth  League — President,  Rev.  W.  A.  Gardner;  First  Vice- 
President,  H.  F.  Button;  Second  Vice-President,  Edith  M.  Wilbur; 
Third  Vice-President,  Idella  Leffingwell;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Anna  F.  Button;  Secretary,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Gardner;  Treasurer,  J.  Frank 
Gardner. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WAPPING,  CONN. 

In  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in  Wapping,  Conn.,  the  names 
of  two  men  are  conspicuous,  those  of  Father  Drake  and  Captain  Jona- 
than Stoughton,  who  by  their  exemplary  lives  and  never-tiring  energy 
in  Christian  work  did  much  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  Methodist 
society. 

Rev.  V.  Osborn,  a  school  teacher  of  Manchester,  by  the  request 
of  Captain  Stoughton,  was  the  first  to  preach  as  a  Methodist  in  Wrap- 
ping.  He  organized  a  society  with  a  membership  of  eight.  A  church 
had  been  built  on  the  pub- 
lic green,  and  the  money 
for  its  erection  was  raised 
by  subscription  from  all 
denominations  then  repre- 
sented. The  Presbyterians 
were  in  the  majority,  and 
it  was  agreed  that  when- 
ever they  should  desire  to 
occupy  the  house  to 
themselves  they  could  do 
so  by  refunding  to  the 
other  denominations  the 
amount  of  their  subscrip- 

THE    WAPPING  CHURCH. 

tions. 

For  one  year  Rev.  Mr.  Osborn  alternated  with  other  preachers 
in  the  supply  of  the  pulpit.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  Presbyterians, 
having  paid  back  the  subscriptions,  as  agreed,  claimed  the  church. 


i86 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


The  Methodists  were  compelled  to  find  other  quarters,  and  so  for 
a  time  services  were  conducted  in  the  neighboring  schoolhouse,  of 
which  the  South  schoolhouse  was  most  used.  Here  they  were  so 
pressed  for  room  that  often  the  inside  of  the  building  was  left  to  the 

women  and  children,  the 
men  remaining  in  the  open 
air  while  Rev.  Mr.  Osborn 
preached  from  a  wagon 
placed  by  an  open  win- 
dow. At  other  times  the 
people  gathered  under  a 
large  elm  tree  that  stood 
near  the  schoolhouse. 

It  was  necessary  to 
provide  a  more  convenient 
place  of  worship,  so  it  was 
decided  to  build.  The 
church  members,  together 
with  those  interested,  went 
forth  into  the  forest  and  felled  the  timbers,  which  are  the  framework 
of  the  present  church  edifice  standing  on  the  common.  It  was  dedi- 
cated by  Rev.  V.  Osborn  in  1833. 

Since  then  many  changes  have  been  made,  of  which  the  following 
are  the  most  important.  From  1851  to  1853  the  church  was  raised 


THE  WAPPING  PARSONAGE. 


REV.   S.   J.  ROOK. 


MRS.   S.   J.   ROOK. 


and  a  basement  added,  a  new  front  of  seven  feet  put  in,  a  steeple 
erected,  and  a  bell  placed  in  it.  Also  new  pews  and  pulpit  furniture 
were  purchased. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


187 


In  1877,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  F.  Smith,  $850  was 
expended  in  remodeling  and  repairing  the  church. 

In  1892,  during  the  service  of  Rev.  D.  W.  Adams,  extensive  re- 
pairs were  made,  the  basement  being  improved  by  putting  in  new 
floor  and  ceiling  and  dividing  the  room  into  three  apartments.  The 
church  was  painted,  and  new  steps  added  to  the  front.  The  audience 
room  was  painted,  papered  and  carpeted,  and  a  new  furnace  placed  in 
the  basement.  At  this  time  the  present  parsonage  was  purchased. 
The  old  parsonage  on  Ellington  road,  a  short  distance  west  of  the 
church,  was  purchased  by  Norman  Foster  and  Edwin  Foster  and  held 
for  the  society. 

Through  the  bequest  of  $500  from  Mrs.  Nancy  Rockwell,  who 
died  in  1863,  and  a  subscription  which  was  raised  two  years  later,  the 


W.   F.  BUCKLAND, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


WM.  D.   FOSTER, 
Epworth  League  President. 


property  came  into  the  hands  of  the  society  in  1865.  Not  being  a 
desirable  location,  an  exchange  was  made  in  1893,  the  Society  to  pay 
an  additional  $500,  which  amount  is  yet  unpaid. 

The  present  property  consists  of  a  parsonage,  large  barn  and 
about  twelve  acres  of  land.  The  church  is  valued  at  $4,000  and  the 
parsonage  property  at  $1,600. 

A  chapter  of  the  Epworth  League  was  organized  during  the  pas- 
torate of  J.  W.  Naramore  in  1891,  which  has  been  doing  faithful  work. 
Its  departments  at  present  are  in  good  working  order.  The  member- 
ship varies  from  fifty  to  sixty. 

The  Sunday  School  numbers  about  fifty. 

The  church  membership  is  eighty-five  and  thirteen  probationers. 


[88 


SOU  FEN  I R  HISTORY. 


1830-33. 
1833- 


1834- 
1835- 
1836-37. 
1838. 

1839. 
1840. 
1841. 

1842. 

1843- 
1844. 

1845- 
1847- 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 

I852-53- 
1854. 

1855- 


PASTORS. 

V.  Osborn  1856-57. 

S.  Hull  1858-59- 

E.  M.  Beebe  1860. 

Supplied  1861. 

S.  Drake  1862. 

P.  T.  Kenney  1863-64. 

W.  Ward  1865. 

Freeman  Nutting  1866. 

Charles  A.  Carter  1867. 

Ebenezer  Blake  1868-69. 

Alanson  Latham  1870. 

Richard  Livesey  1871-72. 

A.  C.  Wheat  1873-74. 

Richard  Livesey  T875- 

Caleb  D.  Rogers  1876-77. 

Manning  Walker  1878-79. 

Charles  Noble  1880. 

Manning  Walker  1881-83. 

Pardon  T.  Kenney  1884. 

Sidney  Dean  1887. 

Levi  Daggett  1888. 
Loren  Collins                 -   1889. 

E.  A.  Lyon  1890. 

Lyman  Leffingwell  1891. 

Nelson  Goodrich  1892. 

Roger  Albiston  1896. 

J.  F.  Sheffield  1897. 


J.  S.  Mather 
B.  M.  Walker 
L.  D.  Bentley 
S.  Lamberton 
Nelson  Goodrich 
T.  W.  Douglass 
Frederic  C.  Newell 
George  Morse 
J.  H.  Cooley 
Heflin  Smith 
G.  H.  Winchester 
Mellin  Howard 
Denison  L.  Brown 
Edward  Anthony 
E.  F.  Smith 
Charles  Hammond 
George  Bentley 
W.  F.  Taylor 
J.  Betts 
S.  F.  Harmon 
W.  N.  Alexander 

-  McDonald 
B.  F.  Raynor 
J.  Wr.  Naramore 
D.  W.  Adams 
S.  G.  Dorey 
S.  J.  Rook 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Norman  Foster,  W.  F.  Buckland,  N.  D.  Foster,  S.  J. 
Grant,  W.  H.  Lathrop,  R.  J.  Shaw. 

Stewards — Edwin  Foster,  Norman  Foster,  S.  J.  Grant,  H.  D. 
Foster,  F.  W.  Foster,  W.  F.  Buckland,  R.  J.  Shaw,  W.  H.  Lathrop, 
Walter  H.  Foster,  Charles  Denning,  William  M.  Foster. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  W.  F.  Buckland;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, the  Pastor;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Dora  Foster; 
Librarian,  Miss  Carrie  Grant. 

Teachers — N.  D.  Foster,  S.  J.  Rook,  Mrs.  Sheldon  Grant,  Miss 
Ellen  Foster,  Mrs.  Norman  Stoughton,  Mrs.  Wesley  Brown,  Miss 
Mary  Foster,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Buckland,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Rook. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  William  M.  Foster;  First  Vice  Pres- 
ident, W.  F.  Buckland;  Second  Vice  President,  Mrs.  W.  Brown;  Third 
Vice  President,  Miss  May  Foster;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Miss  Carrie 
Grant;  Treasurer,  Louis  Grant;  Secretary,  W.  C.  Hills. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Rook;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Katharine  Buckland;  President,  Ruth  Brown;  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Gusta  Meikolite;  Treasurer,  Norma  Stoughton;  Secretary,  How- 
ard Foster;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Clarence  Smith. 


WAREHOUSE    POINT    CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WAREHOUSE  POINT,  CONN. 

In  1822  Mrs.  Hannah  Randall  received  a  communication  from 
Providence,  her  former  home,  stating  that  one  of  her  friends  had  mar- 
ried a  Methodist  minister  by  the  name  of  Fifield,  and  that  he  was  sta- 
tioned in  Springfield,  Mass.  With  a  ready  mind  Mrs.  Randall  opened 
a  correspondence  with  her  friends  in  Springfield,  which  resulted  in  a 
visit  from  Rev.  Moses  Fifield 
to  Warehouse  Point.  In  true 
itinerant  fashion  he  improved 
the  opportunity  by  preaching 
to  the  people  who  assembled 
in  the  King  Street  school- 
house.  At  the  close  of  the 
service  he  was  requested  to 
come  again  and  preach  to 
them,  which  he  did. 

On  his  second  coming 
he  was  engaged  to  supply  the 
people  one-half  of  the  time 
until  the  next  session  of  the 
Conference,  the  service  to  be  held  in  what  is  now  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church. 

On  Mr.  Fifield's  second  visit  he  formed  a  class,  composed  of  the 
following  persons:  Ephraim  Randall  and  wife,  Beulah  Chaplin,  a 
widow;  Thomas  Knight,  and  Hannah  Abbe.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  Warehouse  Point  Church. 

In  the  summer  of  1822  Rev.  Moses  Fifield  was  appointed  to  the 
circuit,  consisting  of  Warehouse  Point  and  Tolland,  and  he  moved 
here  and  remained  preacher  in  charge  two  years.  Quite  a  number  were 
added  to  the  church  during  his  pastorate.  A  revival  was  held  in 

the  Episcopal  Church,  and  stirred 
up  quite  an  opposition,  so  much 
so  that  for  peace  the  meetings 
were  taken  from  the  church  and 
held  in  the  schoolhouse.  The 
same  parties  continued  their  per- 
secutions, and  the  schoolhouse, 
by  vote  of  the  district,  was  shut 
against  the  Methodists,  and  there 
was  nothing  to  do  but  hold  the 
meetings  in  private  houses,  and 
this  was  done  in  the  homes  of  Phineas  Parsons  and  Mary  Holkins. 

In  a  few  months  the  society  procured  a  hall  on  Water  street, 
where  it  worshiped  for  a  time.  Very  soon  Mr.  Holkins  resolved  to 


WAREHOUSE  POINT    PARSONAGE. 


190 


SO  U I  'EN IK  HIS  TOR  Y. 


build  a  meeting-house  for  the  Methodists,  but  for  some  reason  failed  to 
do  so;  but  the  church  claimed  by  the  Episcopalians  was  leased  for 
half  the  time,  and  this  state  of  things  continued  until  1831. 

Then  the  persecution  by  the  same  parties  as  before  broke  out 


REV.    C.    H.    WALTER. 


MRS.  C.   H.   WALTER. 


again,  and  the  society  was  driven  from  the  church  to  the  schoolhouse. 
About  this  time  Mr.  Holkins  died,  and  the  papers  pertaining  to  the 
building  of  the  meeting-house  could  not  be  found;  but  this  good  friend 


J.   R.  SPERRY. 


HON.    S.    D.   ROCKWELL. 


left  the  society  $1,000,  the  interest  on  which  was  to  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  preaching,  and  is  still  so  used.  During  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  George .  Southworth,  1829-30,  Rev.  R.  W.  Allen  of  the  New 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


191 


England  Conference  and  Rev.  James  Pascoe  were  converted,  and 
many  others,  who  have  proved  great  helps  to  the  society. 

In  1832,  when  Rev.  E.  M.  Beebe  was  pastor,  the  present  church 
edifice  was  built.  Warehouse  Point  was  made  a  station  by  itself  in 
1883;  180  were  converted  in  1834,  while  Windsor  Ward  was  pastor. 

Rev.  Moses  Stoddarcl  was  appointed  to  Warehouse  Point  in  1842, 
but  sickness  prevented  his  coming  at  once,  and  when  he  did  he  found 
the  community  greatly  excited  about  the  second  coming  of  Christ,  and 
a  revival  commenced  as  soon  as  he  began  his  labors.  Many  of  the 
members  embraced  this  new  phase  of  an  old  Bible  doctrine,  and,  in 


GILES   W.    BOWER, 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MRS.    IRINE    KIRBY. 


fact,  the  pastor  was  carried  away  with  it  and  believed  Mr.  Miller's 
theory,  and  felt  called  upon  to  go  everywhere  to  warn  the  people,  and 
so  left  his  appointment  and  the  church.  But  the  church  lived  through 
the  excitement,  and  continues  to  live.  The  present  parsonage  was 
secured  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  M.  Worcester,  in  1 860-61. 

This  church  has  always  been  generous  in  its  contributions  for 
missions,  and  in  1897  stood  second  in  the  district. 


PASTORS. 

1822-23.  Moses  Fifield  1833. 

1824-25.  R.  F.  Sanford  1835-36. 

1826.  H.  Perry  1837. 

1827-28.  Erastus  Otis  1838. 

1829-30.  George  South  worth  1839-40. 

1831.  J.  W.  Case  1841. 

1832.  E.  M.  Beebe  1842. 


Charles  Haywood 
Isaac  Stoddard 
S.  B.  Haskell 
E.  Blake 
B.  C.  Phelps 
W.  H.  Richards 
Moses  Stoddard 


,92  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

1843.          Abraham  Holway  1867-68.     John  Cooper 

1844-45.     Frank  Bill  1869-70.     L.  W.  Blood 

1846.  '       Charles  Barnes  1871-72.     A.  L.  Bearing 

1847.  Frank  Fish  1873-75.     John  Howson 

1848.  E.  A.  Lyon  1876.          C.  S.  Morse 
1850-51.     Sanford  Benton                 1877-79.     D-  L-  Brown 

!  852-53.     James  Mather  1880-82.     E.  S.  Fletcher 

1854  ~        Abel  Gardner  1883-84.     William  Turkington 

1855  L.  Dow  Bentley  1885-86.  H.  H.  Martin 
1856-57.  H.  W.  Conant  1887-88.  William  Kirkby 
1858-59.  J.  F.  Sheffield  1889-90.  Richard  Burn 
1860-61.  J.  M.  Worcester  1891-92.  F.  C.  Baker 
1862.  Charles  C.  Adams  1893-94.  James  Biram 
1863-65.  W.  O.  Cady  1895-96.  John  Pearce 
1866.    *  Robert  Parsons  1897.  C.  H.  Walter 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — J.  R.  Sperry,  J.  A.  Pascoe,  O.  T.  Cone,  O.  F.  Cone, 
F.  L.  Jacobs,  A.  L.  Cutter,  Dwight  Abbe,  O.  S.  Rockwell,  M.  H. 
Bancroft. 

Stewards— S.  D.  Rockwell,  J.  A.  Barber,  E.  W.  Bailey,  R.  A. 
Parker,  J.  R.  Sperry  (R.  S.),  O.  T.  Cone,  Olin  S.  Rockwell,  W.  J. 
Bailey,  L.  G.  Bancroft. 

Class  Leader — S.  D.  Rockwell. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Giles  W.  Bower;  First  Assistant 
Superintendent,  O.  F.  Cone;  Second  Assistant  Superintendent,  Mrs. 
C.  H.  Walter;  Third  Assistant  Superintendent,  Miss  Georgia  Parker; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Olin  S.  Rockwell;  Librarians,  Miss  Emma 
Bower,  Clayton  Abbe ;  Chorister,  Miss  Julia  Doane. 

Teachers — E.  W.  Bailey,  A.  L.  Cutter,  Mrs.  Nettie  Munson,  Mrs. 
A.  L.  Cutter,  Miss  Julia  Doane,  Mrs.  Irene  Kirby,  S.  D.  Rockwell, 
O.  F.  Cone,  W.  J.  Bailey,  Miss  Lottie  Derring,  Miss  Hattie  Derring, 
Miss  Bertha  Cone,  Miss  Lena  Abbe,  Miss  Edith  Bower.  Quar.  Con. 
S.  S.  Committee,  Mrs.  Ellen  G.  Sperry,  J.  R.  Sperry,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Parker,  Miss  Emma  Bower. 

Christian  Endeavor — President,  Mrs.  Irene  Kirby;  Vice  President 
and  Treasurer,  W.  J.  Bailey;  Secretary,  Miss  Lena  Abbe. 


GRACE  M.  E.  CHURCH,  WESTERLY,  R.  I. 

Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Westerly,  R.  I.,  was  organ- 
ized in  1847.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Pardon  T.  Kenney.  To 
aid  in  his  support  the  Missionary  Society  appropriated  $150,  to  be 
divided  between  Westerly  and  Stonington.  The  beginning  was  not 
very  promising.  The  number  of  members  was  small,  and  their  pecu- 
niary ability  limited.  The  place  of  worship  was  the  old  Union  Meeting- 
House  on  Union  street,  where  the  Town  Hall  now  stands.  The  con- 
gregation remained  there  till  1856,  after  which  the  services  were  held 
in  Vose's  Hall,  over  what  is  now  the  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
clothing  store  of  Mr.  George  H. 
Babcock.  Having  no  church  edi- 
fice, and  the  growth  being  very 
slow,  the  discouraging  outlook  led 
the  Conference  to  connect  this 
church  with  Mystic  from  about  this 
time  until  1866,  during  which 
period  the  prayer  and  class  meet- 
ings were  held  in  dwelling  houses; 
but  the  Sunday  School  was  discon- 
tinued. 

The  appointment  of  the  Rev. 
G.  S.  Alexander  in  1866  to  culti- 
vate this  field  greatly  revived  the 
waning  cause  and  gave  it  such  an 
impetus  that  it  has  moved  steadily 
and  successfully  on  until  the  present 
time.  Just  prior  to  the  coming  of 
Mr.  Alexander  a  Sunday  School 
was  organized  through  the  per- 
sistent efforts  of  Mr.  David  Sunderland,  who  became  its  first 
superintendent.  On  the  first  Sunday  there  were  five  scholars 
present;  but  its  growth  was  such  that  in  the  following  Decem- 
ber it  numbered  ninety-five.  The  first  session  of  the  school  was  held 
in  Porter  and  Loveland's  Block,  where  the  church  continued  to  wor- 
ship until  a  little  later  date,  when  the  American  Hall,  where  the  Barber 
Memorial  Building  now  stands,  was  chosen  as  the  place  of  meeting, 
and  was  so  used  until  a  church  edifice  was  obtained. 

In  1867  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Morse  became  the  pastor,  during  whose 
term  of  service  the  lot  on  High  street,  where  the  church  now  stands, 
was  purchased. 

A  fine  church  edifice  went  slowly  up,  so  that  under  the  pastorate 


THE    WESTERLY    CHURCH. 


194 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


of  the  Rev.  F.  A.  Crafts,  which  began  in  1873,  services  were  held  in 
the  vestry. 

In  1881  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Hamilton  entered  upon  his  pastoral  work 
and  succeeded  in  completing  the  auditorium. 

Thirty-one  pastors  have  served  this  church  during  the  half-century 


REV.  w.  J.  SMITH. 


MRS.  W.  J.  SMITH. 

of  its  existence,  under  whose  labors  many  souls  have  been  won  to 
Christ. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Docking's    pastorate   was  blessed  with  a  good  revival. 


J.    J.    PINE. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


R.    H.    MOYLE, 
Epworth   League   President. 


A  convenient  and  well  furnished  parsonage,  an  excellent  church  finely 
located,  a  wide-awake  and  united  people,  a  splendid  audience,  made 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


195 


up  largely  of  young  persons;  a  church  membership  of  over  three  hun- 
dred, a  vigorous  Epworth  League,  an  up-to-date  Sunday  School  and  a 
busy  and  efficient  Ladies'  Aid  Society  all  combine  to  make  this  one  of 
the  very  pleasant  churches  of  our  Conference. 


PASTORS. 


1847- 

1848. 

1849-50. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853-54. 
1855-56. 

1857- 

1858. 

1859-60. 

1861. 

1862. 

1863. 

1864-65. 

1866. 

1867-68. 


P.  T.  Kenney 
L.  D.  Bentley 
W.  O.  Cady  ' 
N.  Bemis 
O.  Hughes 
L.  B.  Bates 
G.  W.  Wooding 
C.  Hammond 
O.  N.  Brooks 

E.  S.  Stanley 
C.  S.  Sanford 

F.  Upham 

Left  to  be  supplied 
V.  A.  Cooper 
George  S.  Alexander 

G.  A.  Morse 


1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1  873-75. 

1876. 

1877-78. 

1879-80. 

1881-82. 

1883. 

1884-86. 

1887. 

1888-90. 

1891-92. 

1893-94. 


A.  W.  Mills 
J.  S.  Thomas 

E.  S.  Stanley 
N.  G.  Axtefl 

F.  A.  Crafts 
J.  W.  Willett 
Robert  Clark 
W.  P.  Hyde 

J.  B.  Hamilton 
Geo.  W.  Anderson 
Walter  Ela 
Samuel  M.  Beale 
J.  E.  Hawkins 
F.  L.  Hayward 
James  T.  Docking 
Wm.  J.  Smith 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— William  Oppy,  J.  W.  Lewis,  A.  W.  Pachey,  R.  H. 
Daney,  O.  S.  Chapman,  L.  D.  Richmond,  J.  H.  Crandall. 

Stezvards— ].  H.  Crandall,  John  Parker,  P.  F.  Caddy,  P.  H.  Opie, 
N.  Percy  Pine,  Stephen  Percy,  Jr.,  W.  L.  Foster,  Fred  Parker,  W.  J. 
Synions,  A.  G.  James. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  J.  Pine;  Assistant  Superintend- 
ent, John  Dower;  Secretary,  A.  G.  James;  Treasurer,  William  Pearce; 
Librarian,  Fred  Parker. 

Teachers — William  Pearce,  John  Opie,  Jennie  Simmons,  Sarah  A. 
Sisson,  Agnes  A.  Daney,  Mrs.  William  Oppy,  W.  G.  Spargo,  Beatrice 
M.  Smith,  Viola  M.  Babcock,  W.  J.  Spargo,  John  T.  Parker,  Benjamin 
Dower,  Annie  J.  Pascoe,  Thomas  H.  Clemens. 

Epii'orth  League — President,  R.  H.  Moyle;  First  Vice  President, 
Edgar  Matthews;  Second  Vice  President,  Fannie  P.  Percy;  Third  Vice 
President,  J.  S.  Pearce;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Nellie  Bennett;  Fifth 
Vice  President,  Emily  Pine;  Sixth  Vice  President,  A.  Mabelle  Ingharn. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WEST  THOMPSON,  CONN. 
The  church  at  West  Thompson  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  services 
conducted  in  Pomfret  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  John  Allen,  who 
labored  there  during  the  winter  of  1792-93-  During  that  time  Noah 
Perrin,  who  resided  near  Putman,  under  his  powerful  preaching,  was 
made  sensible  of  his  alienated  condition.  He  therefore  opened  his 
house  to  the  preachers  and  soon  after  received  the  pardoning  grace 


1 


WEST  THOMPSON  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 

of  God.  A  class  of  six  persons  was  formed  at  his  residence  in  1793. 
and  Noah  Perrin  was  appointed  leader,  which  position  he  held  for 
nearly  sixty  years. 

The  Gospel  ministry  was  continued  at  this  house  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  For  the  better  accommodation  of  the  preachers  a  port- 
able pulpit  was  constructed. 

In  the  year  1793  another  class  was  formed  at  West  Thompson, 
which  was  led  occasionally  by  Noah  Perrin.  To  hold  in  perpetual 
remembrance  this  genuine  disciple  of  Christ  (as  posterity  soon  forgets 
the  greatest  of  its  ancestors),  his  friends  have  placed  the  portraits  of 
himself  and  wife  in  front  of  the  original  pulpit.  There  in  central  posi- 
tion the  illustrious  couple  stand. 

Another  remarkable  character  in  the  ranks  of  these  early  Metho- 
dists was  Captain  Jonathan  Nichols,  at  whose  house  at  West  Thomp- 
son preaching  was  established  as  early  as  1795.  In  1796,  in  an  upper 
unfinished  room  of  this  house,  which  is  yet  standing  near  the  church, 
the  Conference  of  New  England  met.  This  notable  Conference,  the 
sixth  held  in  New  England,  and  the  first  and  last  at  West  Thompson, 
began  September  19,  and  adjourned  on  the  2ist,  Bishop  Asbury  pre- 
siding. There  were  thirty  preachers  present,  some  of  whom  came 
from  the  Province  of  Maine,  and  seven  deacons  and  five  elders  were 
ordained. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


197 


The  preachers  from  Pomfret  circuit  were  Joel  Kitchen  and  Daniel 
Brunley.  West  Thompson  in  those  early  years  was  included  in  the 
large  Pomfret  circuit,  which,  in  1827,  was  changed  to  West  Thompson 
circuit  and  embraced  several  neighboring  towns. 

The  first  Methodist  Church  in  Thompson  was  erected  in  1797,  a 
little  east  of  where  the  church  now  stands;  Rev.  Daniel  Ostrander 
preached  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

In  July,  1800,  Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  preached  on  the 
same  day  in  the  first  Methodist  meeting-house. 

A  Missionary  Society  in  connection  with  this  old  church  was 
organized  in  1838.  The  present  church  edifice  was  built  in  1841  and 


REV.   E.   J.  SAMPSON. 


MRS.    E.    J.    SAMPSON. 


dedicated  July  5  of  the  same  year  by  Joshua  Soule,  Senior  Bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  It  became  the  mother  of  thirteen 
churches,  including  those  at  Danielson,  Eastford,  East  Woodstock, 
Xorth  Grosvenor  Dale,  East  Thompson,  Webster,  Putman  and  Atta- 
waugan. 

The  Centennial  of  the  Annual  Conference  already  referred  to  was 
celebrated  at  West  Thompson  Church  on  Sunday,  December  6,  1896. 
Great  interest  was  manifest  on  this  memorable  occasion  by  many  per- 
sons assembling  from  these  respective  churches  to  listen  to  the  Pre- 
siding Elder,  G.  H.  Bates,  who  delivered  a  most  interesting  and  in- 
structive discourse. 

Through  the  generous  assistance  of  N.  S.  Johnson,  originally  of 
West  Thompson,  now  one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  Putman, 
Mrs.  Chamberlain  and  Elijah  Nichols,  the  church  underwent  repairs 
in  1892-93.  This  society  has  a  firm  friend  in  Mr.  J.  W.  Doane,  who 
renders  valuable  assistance  in  the  financial  support  of  the  church. 


198 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1793.          John  Allen 

1795.  Daniel  Ostrander 
William  Chapin 

1796.  Joel  Kitchen 
D.  Brunley 

1797.  Stephen  Hull 
Joseph  Crawford 

1798.  Daniel  Ostrander 
Asa  Heath 

1799.  William  Thatcher 

1800.  Daniel  Ostrander 

1 80 1.  Peter  Vanast 
Phineas  Peat 
James  Annis 

1802.  John  Nichols 
Samuel  Goslin 

1803.  John  Gove 
Dyer  Burge 

1804.  Thomas  Brenich 
Noble  W.  Thomas 

1805.  Joshua  Crowell 
Thomas  Rawlin 

1806.  Thomas  Perry 
Elisha  Streeter 

1807.  Ebenezer  Washburn 

1808.  Hollis  Sampson 
Abner  Clark 

1809.  Isaac  Bonney 
Samuel  Cutler 


1810-11. 
1812. 
1813. 
1814. 

1815. 

1816. 
1817. 


1819. 

1820. 
1821. 
1822. 

1823. 
1824. 
1825. 
1826. 
1827. 
1828. 


1829. 


JOHN    N.     PERRIX, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


'834-35- 
1836. 

1837-38. 


Theophilus  Smith 
Philip  Munger 
Theophilus  Smith 
Joel  Winch 
Job  Pratt 
Elias  Marble 
Job  Pratt 
Edward  Hyde 
John  Walker 
Ebenezer  rilakt- 
Benjamin  Sabin 
Ebenezer  Blake 
Amasa  Cowles 
Joseph  Ireson 
Joseph  Ireson 
Samuel  G.  Atkins 
Elias  Marble 
E.  R.  A very 
Elias  Marble 
Milton   French 
John  W.  Hardy 
John  W.  Case 
Heman  Perry 
Milton  French 
Heman  Perry 
George  Sutherland 
I.  Bonney 
I.  M.  Bidwell 

0.  Robbins 
P.  Townsend 

1.  M.  Bidwell 
O.  Robbins 
P.  Sabin 

J.  Lovejoy 
P.  Sabin 
R.  Gould 
J.  Lovejoy 
Ben  Paine 
R.  Gould 
William  Livesey 
Charles  Virgin 
Ben  Paine 
E.  J.  Scott 
Charles  Virgin 
William  Livesey 
P.  T.  Kenney 
Hector  Bronson 
W.  Rimbat 
J.  W.  Case 


SO U I  'ENIR  HIS  TOR  Y 


l839. 
1840-41. 
1842. 
1843-44. 

1845- 

1846-47. 

1848. 

1849-50. 

1851-52. 

1853-54. 

1855-56. 

1857-58. 

I859. 

1860. 

1861-62. 

1863. 


Abram  Holway  1864-65. 

George  May  1866-70. 

Erastus  Benton  1871-74. 
Benjamin  C.  Phelps         1875. 

Richard  Livesey  1876-77. 

George  Stearns  1878-79. 

James  Mather  1880-82. 

Sidney  Dean  1883-84. 

Edward  A.  Lyon  1885-86. 

Charles  Morse  1886-88. 

B.  M.  Walker  1889-90. 

L.  B.  Bates  1891-92. 

George  Burnham  1893-94. 

Albert  M.  Allen  1895-96. 

John  W.  Case  1897. 
John  Cooper 


Silas  S.  Cummings 
Warren  Emerson 
Samuel  Fox 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
D.  C.  House 
Seth  B.  Chase 
Lorenzo  W.  Blood 
Charles  Hammond 
\Valter  P.  Stoddard 
B.  F.  Raynor 
Daniel  Brown 

D.  G.  Ashley 
J.  Q.  Adams 

T.  W.  Douglass 

E.  J.  Sampson 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — George  Johnson,  John  N.  Perrin,  William  Perrin,  Her- 
bert Marsh,  Mrs.  Mary  Marsh,  Miss  Sarah  Swan. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  N.  Perrin;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, Herbert  Marsh;  Treasurer,  John  M.  Perrin;  Secretary, 
Miss  Jennie  Perrin;  Librarian,  Herbert  Marsh;  Organist,  Miss  Lillie 
Case. 

Teachers — J.  N.  Perrin,  E.  J.  Sampson,  Miss  Sadie  Case,  Miss 
Lillie  Case,  Mrs.  M.  F.  Sampson;  Reserve  Teacher,  Edw.  Thompson. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WILLIMANTIC,  CONN. 

The  first  class  was  organized  here  in  1828,  by  Jonathan  Fuller, 
though  probably  there  had  been  preaching  by  Methodist  ministers  of 
the  Mansfield  Circuit  since  1823. 

In  1827  the  Rev.  E.  Dearborn,  a  local  preacher,  held  services  in 
an  old  schoolhouse,  and  a  Deacon  Lee  of  the  Congregational  Church 

.     offered   to   donate  $300  toward   a 

Methodist  church.  The  Methodists 
hesitated,  and  the  offer  was  lost,  go- 
ing to  the  Congregationalists. 

Rev.  Horace  Moulton  came 
here  in  1828  and  held  revival  ser- 
vices in  the  homes  of  the  two  or 
three  Methodist  families.  Thirty  or 
forty  were  converted,  who,  in  spite 
of  much  opposition  from  the  Bap- 
tists and  Congregationalists,  became 
the  nucleus  of  the  present  church. 
Some  $800  was  raised  by  Mr.  Moul- 
ton, and  a  chapel  was  built.  This 
chapel  was  dedicated  in  the  Fall  of 
1828,  the  Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk  preach- 
ing the  dedicatory  sermon  from 
Psalms,  xcv.,  5. 

In  1829  Willimantic  was  made 
a  Sabbath  appointment  on  Tolland 


THE      WILLIMANTIC    CHURCH. 


Circuit.  The  first  church  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  "Atwood  Block,"  opposite 
Railroad  Street.  The  site  was  purchased 
for  $125.  he  house  cost  $700.  The 
building,  since  removed,  stands  near 
the  present  church  edifice,  on  Church 
Street.  The  early  Trustees  were 
Apollos  Perkins,  Jonathan  Fuller, 
William  C.  Brown  and  Luther  Jacobs. 
The  present  church  was  begun  in 
1850,  when  Jonathan  Cady  was  the 
minister.  It  cost  about  $7,000.  After 
dedication  a  debt  of  about  $5,000  re- 
mained. The  dedicatory  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  Olin. 


WILLIMANTIC  PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


201 


The  last  of  the  indebtedness  was  liquidated  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  George  W.  Brewster,  in  1865.  The  building  was  extensively 
repaired  without,  and  considerably  refurnished  and  decorated  within, 


REV   L.    G.    HORTON. 


MRS.  L.    G.    HORTON. 


and  a  commodious  parsonage  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Edgar  F.  Clark.  During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  S.  McBurney  the  church 
was  lengthened  and  altered  at  an  expense  of  $7,000,  all  of  which  was 


W.    C.    LYMAN, 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


H.    E.   ANTHONY. 
Epworth   League   President. 


raised,  leaving  no  indebtedness.    Great  credit  is  due  Mr.  McBurney  for 
all  this. 

Many  glorious  revivals  have  taken  place  in  the  history  of  this  old 


2O2 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


church.     One  especially  to  be  noted  occurred  while  S.  J.  Carroll  was 
here,  continuing  one  hundred  consecutive  nights  with  blessed  results. 

Among  the  laymen  who  have  helped  to  make  this  church  a  power 
in  the  past  may  be  named  Ralph  Williams,  Seymour  Davenport,  Elias 
P.  Brown,  Lewis  Burlingham,  Henry  Hine,  Orlando  Little,  Thomas 
Turner,  Lyman  Jordan  (Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan's  father),  Warren  Atwood. 
"These  all  died  in  the  faith." 


1823. 
1824. 

1825. 
1826. 
1827. 
1828. 

1829. 

1830. 

1831- 

1832. 

1833. 


1836. 
1837- 

1838. 

1839- 

1840-41. 

1842. 

1843- 
1844. 
1845-46. 


J.  McKee 
J.  W.  Case 
J.  Ireson 
E.  Frink 
B.  Lambert 
H.  Benson 
I.  M.  Bidwell 

D.  Fletcher 
Horace  Moulton 
H.   Ramsdell 
H.  Moulton 
Paul  Townsend 

E.  Beebe 
George  May 
J.  E.  Risley 
Hebron  Vincent 
K.  Ward 

S.  Heath 
Mosely  Dwight 
Philetus  Green 
S.  Leonard 
H.  Torbush 
K.  Ward 
Reuben  Ransom 
Pardon  T.  Kenney 
A.  C.  Wheat 

F.  W.  Bill 
Charles  Noble 
John  Cooper 


PASTORS. 

1847- 

1848-49. 

1850-51. 

1852-53- 
1854. 

1855-56. 

1857-58. 

1859. 

1 860-6 1. 

1862-63. 

1864-66. 

1867-69. 

1870-71. 

1872. 

1873- 
1874. 

I875-77- 

1878. 

1879-80. 

1881-82. 

1883-85. 

1886. 

1887-89. 

1890-91. 

1892. 

I893-95- 

1896. 

1897. 


Daniel  Dorchester 
A.  H.  Robinson 
Jonathan  Cady 
M.  P.  Alderman 
George  W.  Rogers 
Charles  Morse 
William  Turkington 
John  Livesey 
William  Kellen 
E.-  B.  Bradford 
George  W.  Brewster 
Edgar  F.  Clark 
George  E.  Reed 
Charles  S.  Macreading 
Shadrach  Leader 
George  W.  Miller 
S.  J.  Carroll 
William  T.  Worth 
A.  J.  Church 
S.  McBurney 
D.  P.  Leavitt 
Eben  Tirrell 

C.  W.  Holden 
A.  P.  Palmer 

D.  N.  Stafford 
O.  W.  Scott 
W.  A.  Luce 
L.  G.  Horton 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees—  D.  C.  Card,  D.  W.  Conant,  H.  C.  Hall,  D.  H.  Barstow, 
Robert  Mitchell,  W.  C.  Lyman,  J.  G.  Mitchell,  W.  H.  Burlingham. 

Stewards— James  Purdie,  W.  H.  Burlingham,  W.  C.  Norris,  H. 
Anthony,  W.  H.  Bissell,  Van  B.  Jordan,  D.  W.  Conant,  Charles 
Mitchell,  J.  G.  Davoll,  R.  B.  Brown,  Mrs.  R.  B.  Brown,  Charles  Brad- 
ley, F.  P.  Davoll. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


203 


Sunday  School—  Superintendent,  W.  C.  Lyman;  Assistant,  D.  W. 
Conant;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  John  G.  Mitchell;  Librarian,  Will- 
iam Mitchell;  Superintendent  Infant  Department,  Mrs.  Marion  Storrs. 

Teachers — W.  C.  Norris,  James  Purdie,  George  Phillips,  Charles 
Mitchell,  Annie  Pomeroy,  Phoebe  Edson,  Lois  Burnham,  Mrs.  George 
Phillips,  Mrs.  Lyman  Loomis,  Mrs.  R.  B.  Brown,  H.  E.  Anthony, 
Marion  Storrs,  Carrie  Jordan,  Jennie  Jackson. 

Epworth  League — President,  H.  E.  Anthony;  First  Vice-President, 
Maud  Richard;  Second  Vice-President,  Lena  Webber;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Charles  Mitchell;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Lottie  Swift;  Sec- 
retary. Imogene  A.  Fillmore;  Treasurer,  Emma  D.  Fuller. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WINDSORVILLE,  CONN. 

In  the  year  1824  Rev.  Moses  Fifield  held  preaching  services  in 
the  old  schoolhouse  which  stood  a  few  rods  in  a  northerly  direction 
from  the  site  on  which  atferward  was  built  the  first  Methodist  church 
in  this  vicinity.  Meetings  were  also  held  in  several  private  houses  in 
the  neighborhood  not  far  from  where  Aunt  Chloe  Hamilton  now  lives. 
Sister  Hamilton,  now  90  years  of 
age,  distinctly  remembers  those 
early  days  in  Methodism  here.  A 
gracious  revival  attended  Mr.  Fi- 
field's  labors,  and  a  church  was 
soon  formed.  Another  revival 
took  place  in  1826  under  the  labors 
of  Erastus  Otis  and  Daniel 
Fletcher,  which  added  a  goodly 
number  to  the  new  society.  In  the 
month  of  February,  1829,  land  was 
deeded  to  the  society,  and  during 
the  year  the  first  church  was  built 
at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  Israel  Allen 
gave  $100,  which  was  the  largest 
subscription,  while  others  gave 
smaller  sums  down  to  $i.  For 
several  years  the  seats  used  were 
made  from  slabs. 

This  church  was  located  on  a  piece  of  land  lying  between  the 
roads  just  east  from  where  the  present  schoolhouse  now  stands,  being 
about  half  a  mile  northeasterly  from  the  village  of  Windsorville.  Pre- 
vious to  building  the  church  quarterly  meetings  were  sometimes  held 
in  a  grove  near  the  old  schoolhouse. 


THE       WINDSORVILLE      CHURCH. 


204  SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY- 

The  trustees  to  whom  the  land  was  deeded  were  as  follows :  Amos 
Sweatman,  Chester  Blodgett,  Joseph  Hamilton,  James  McFall  and 
Josiah  Ellsworth. 

The  same  year  in  which  the  church  was  built  East  Windsor  first 
appears  as  a  circuit  in  the  minutes  and  included  the  following  preach- 
ing places :  Warehouse  Point,  Wapping,  Rye  Street  and  Ketch  Mills, 
the  latter  being  the  name  of  what  is  now  Windsorville. 

In  1839  Ketch  Mills  was  connected  with  Vernon,  in  1844  with 
Somers,  in  1845  with  Broad  Brook.  In  1846  Ketch  Mills  appears  alone 
in  the  minutes,  till  1850,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  Windsorville. 


REV.     MERRICK     RANSOM.  MRS.    FLOR1NDA   RANSOM. 

During  the  year  1858  the  old  church  was  moved  into  the  village, 
a  distance  of  nearly  half  a  mile,  to  the  site  of  the  present  church,  and 
repaired  at  a  cost  of  $1,600.  This  building  was  destroyed  by  fire 
December  4,  1876.  It  was  insured  for  the  sum  of  $1,500. 

The  following  year  the  present  church  was  built  and  dedicated, 
Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D.,  preaching  the  sermon.  The  following- 
named  men  from  this  church  became  Methodist  ministers,  viz.,  Rev. 
Ralph  W.  Allen,  Albert  M.  Allen,  Sanford  Amadon  and  Albert  Booth, 
the  latter  now  a  member  of  the  New  York  East  Conference. 

Miss  Aurelia  Clark  went  from  this  church  a  missionary  to  the 
Flathead  Indians  in  Oregon. 

The  following  from  this  church  became  wives  of  Methodist  min- 
Maria  Ellsworth  married  Rev.  Moses  Stoddard,  Ann  Ells- 
worth married  Lorenzo  Bolles,  Emily  Ellsworth  married  Albert  M. 
len,  formerly  a  member  of  the  Providence  Conference;  Elvira  Allen 
married  Rev.  John  Carlwell.  Delina  Allen  married  David  Merrill  and 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


205 


Emeline  Moody  married  A.  A.  Presbrey,  formerly  of  this  Conference. 

Thus  in  the  past  years  a  goodly  number  have  gone  from  this 

church  and  found  many  and  wider  fields  of  usefulness  in  the  Master's 


service. 

1829. 
1830. 
1831. 

1832. 
1833- 

1834. 
1835- 
'830-37- 
1838. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 


1842. 

1843- 
1844. 
1845-46. 

1847- 

1848. 

1849-50. 

1851. 

1852. 


PASTORS. 


George  Sutherland 
Edmund  M.  Beebe 
H.  S.  Ramsdell 
Horace  Moulton 
John  W.  Case 
Philo  Hawkes 
Edmund  M.  Beebe 
Edmund  M.  Beebe 
S.  Hull 
Samuel  Drake 
Pardon  T.  Kenney 
Windsor  Ward 
Freeman  Nutting 
Charles  A.  Carter 
S.  Hull 

Benjamin  M.  Walker 
C.  D.  Rogers 
Lorenzo  W.  Blood 
E.  A.  Standish 
Marvin  Lemngwell 
Squire  B.  Haskall 
Supplied  (unknown) 
John  F.  Blanchard 
Sewall  Lamberton 
James  B.  Weeks 
Horace  Atwater 
William  S.  Simmons 
John  W.  Case 
E.  A.  Standish 
J.  H.  Soule 


1854. 

1855- 
1856. 

1857-58. 

18^9-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-64. 
1865-66. 

1867-69. 

1870. 

1871-72. 

1873- 
1874. 

1875-76. 

1877-78. 

1879-81. 

1882. 

1883-85. 

1886-87. 

1888. 

1889-90. 

1891. 

1892. 

1893. 

1894-95. 

1896-97. 


Albert  Booth 
Albert  M.  Allen 
William  Phillips 
G.  D.  Boynton 
Lozien  Pierce 
Warren  Emerson 
T.  W.  Douglass 
Frederic  C.  Newell 
W.  H.  Burns 
H.  S.  Ramsdell 
Benjamin  M.  Walker 
Tosiah  C.  Allen 
Seth  B.  Chase 
Lorenzo  W.  Blood 
Supplied     by    Andrews 

and  Church 
Otis  E.  Thayer 
John  Lovejoy 
William  Turkington 
Charles  Hammond 
H.  M.  Cole 
S.  V.  B.  Cross 
Thomas  C.  Denrhan 
Edwin  G.  Babcock 
Clark  Perry 
Clark  Perry 
John  Pearse 
William  D.  Woodward 
C.  W.  Ruoff 
Merrick-  Ransom 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — President,. Bradley  I.  Skinner;  H.  E.  Rowley,  James  H. 
House,  Newbury  C.  Durkee,  Hendrick  Belknap,  Charles  E.  Ladd, 
Louise  H.  Foster,  Anna  M.  Rowley,  Ezra  Greene. 

Stewards — Bradley  I.  Skinner,  H.  E.  Rowley,  N.  C.  Durkee, 
Daniel  Beeman,  Anna  M.  Rowley,  Anna  M.  Skinner,  Sarah  A.  Ladd, 
Louise  Foster,  Jane  Pinney,  Alfred  Hayes. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  the  Pastor;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Bradley  I.  Skinner;  Secretary,  Miss  Ethel  Eastman;  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Hattie  Barber;  Librarian,  Merton  Bartlett. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  TOLLAND,  CONN. 

In  May.  1789.  at  the  Conference  held  in  New  York  Jesse  Lee  was 
appointed  as  the  preacher  for  New  England.  On  the  nth  of  June  he 
arrived  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  and  six  days  later  preached  his  first 

sermon  in  New  England  at 
;Norwalk.  Five  years  be- 
fore, at  the  invitation  of 
Bishop  Asbury,  Lee  ad- 
justed his  affairs,  procured 
a  horse,  saddle  bags,  a  Bi- 
ble and  a  hymn  book,  the 
necessary  equipments  for 
a  Methodist  minister  in 
those  early  days,  and  start- 
ed out  on  a  career  which 
has  made  his  name  immor- 
tal. 

In  1790  the  Hartford 
circuit  included  Wilbra- 
ham.  Mass.,  Tolland,  Hartford,  Windsor,  Suffield,  Granby,  Enfield, 
\Yinterbury,  Middletown  and  other  nearby  towns.  Jesse  Lee 
preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  ever  heard  in  Tolland,  April  2, 
1790.  Many  were  converted,  and  a  class  was  formed. 


TOLLAND,    LEE     CHURCH. 


OLD    TOLLAXD    CHURCH    AND    PARSONAGE, 
WHERE     BISHOP     ASBURY     PREACHED. 

Monday,  August  IT,  1793,  the  first  Methodist  Annual  Confer- 
ever  held  in  Connecticut  and  the  second  in  New  England  was 
here.  Ten  or  twelve  ministers  were  present.  The  sessions  of 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


207 


the  Conference  were  held  in  the  northeast  corner  room  of  the  house 
now  occupied  as  a  parsonage.  The  preaching  service  was  held  in  the 
partially  finished  chapel.  Bishop  Asbury  was  present  and  preached 
-on  II.  Timothy  11:24-26,  "The  servant  of  the  Lord  must  not  strive," 
etc.  The  text  was  peculiarly  apt  for  the  people  and  the  time,  for 
Dr.  Williams  of  the  Congregational  Church  had  recently  bitterly  at- 
tacked the  Methodist  Church  usages  and  doctrines.  Dr.  Williams 
afterwards  acknowledged  his  mistake,  and  invited  Methodists  to  hold 
prayer  meetings  at  his  home. 

On  Monday,  October  4,  1790,  Jesse  Lee  arrived  at  the  Conference 
then  in  session  in  New  York.  He  asked  for  additional  workers  for 
New  England.  The  appointments  for  this  section  were  as  follows: 


REV.    J.   Q.    ADAMS. 


MRS.    J.    Q.    ADAMS. 


Presiding  Elder,  Jesse  Lee;  Fairfield  Circuit,  John  Bloodgood;  New 
Haven  Circuit,  John  Lee;  Hartford  Circuit,  Nathaniel  B.  Mills;  Boston 
Circuit,  Jesse  Lee  and  Daniel  Smith.  As  Tolland  was  included  in  the 
Hartford  Circuit,  we  find  that  Nathaniel  B.  Mills  was  the  first  preacher 
appointed  to  Tolland,  although  Jesse  Lee  preached  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  there. 

At  the  Conference  at  New  York  in  1791,  Lemuel  Smith  and  Men- 
zies  Rainor  were  the  preachers  appointed  to  Hartford  Circuit.  During 
the  year  an  "extensive  reformation  prevailed  on  this  circuit."  At  Tol- 
iand  and  the  neighboring  villages  the  interest  was  especially  profound. 
Asbury  estimates  that  150  souls  were  converted  here.  In  1792,  Hope 
Hull,  George  Roberts  and  F.  Aldridge  were  appointed  to  Hartford 
Circuit.  The  revival  spirit  which  had  begun  here  the  year  before  ex- 
tended like  fire  under  the  labors  of  Hull  and  his  colleagues.  It  left  in 


208 


SOU V EN 1 R  HISTORY. 


Tolland  such  distinct  traces  that  a  small  society  was  formed  and  a 
chapel  erected.  With  this  society  the  Conference  met  in  1793.  This 
Conference  was  the  first  ever  held  in  Connecticut  and  the  second  in 
New  England. 

The   first   Methodist   meeting  house   or  chapel   in  Tolland   was 
erected  in  1793.     It  stood  on  the  same  site  of  our  present  Lee  church. 


j.  P.  ROOT, 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


J.    J.    RHODES, 
Epworth    League   President. 


In  1807  a  lease  for  the  land  on  which  the  chapel  was  built  was  given 
to  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  society.  A  copy  of  the  lease  now  in 
possession  of  J.  P.  Root,  chairman  of  the  present  board  of  trustees, 
reads  as  follows:  "Know  all  men  by  these  presents:  That  we,  Thomas 

Howard  and  Harvey  Howard,  both 
of  Tolland,  in  Tolland  county,  for  the 
consideration  of  the  love,  goodwill, 
and  affection  which  we  have  and 
bear  towards  the  Methodist  religion, 
do  lease  unto  Elijah  Haskell,  John 
Norris,  John  Stanley,  Samuel  Norris 
and  Moses  Barnard,  all  of  Tolland, 
Trustees,  *  *  for  and  during  the 
term  of  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
years  *  *  ." 

The  sessions  of  the  Conference 
were  held  in  the  house  now  used  as  a 
parsonage,  while  the  preaching  ser- 
vice was  held  in  the  unfinished 
chapel,  Bishop  Asbury  preaching 
MRS.  ALICE  STEELE.  from  II.  Timothy,  ii.,  24-26. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


209 


In  1794  Tolland  Circuit  appears  for  the  first  time  in  the  Conference 
returns.  The  first  Methodist  meeting-house  was  erected  in  Tolland  in 
1793.  It  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Lee  Church,  on  land  owned 
by  a  Mr.  Howard.  In  1807  a  lease  for  the  land  on  which  the  chapel 
was  built  was  given  to  the  Trustees  of  the  society.  Among  the  large 
number  of  useful  men  converted  at  about  this  time,  1816,  were  Erastus 
Benton,  Sanford  Benton,  Seth  Crowell  and  Eleazor  Steele.  All  natives 
of  Tolland,  and  grand  and  powerful  Methodist  preachers. 

In  August,  1794,  Bishop  Asbury  is  again  in  Tolland.  He  writes 
in  his  journals  as  follows:  "Thursday,  the  7th,  a  day  of  rest  and  afflic- 
tion of  body.  Came  to  Tolland  very  sick.  I  find  my  soul  stayed 
upon  God  in  perfect  love,  and  wait  His  holy  will  in  all  things." 

On  Thursday,  September  u,  1794,  Jesse  Lee,  as  presiding  elder, 


NATHAN    PIERSON, 
Originator    of    Wesley   Chapel. 


MISS  NETTIE   PIERSON. 


rode  into  Tolland,  only  to  find  the  little  band  of  Methodists  wrecked 
by  persecution.  He  preached  on  the  text  Acts  xvii :  6. 

In  1800  Rev.  John  Broadhead,  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  S.  Bost- 
wick,  at  Tolland,  jointly  sent  a  letter.  In  it  they  say:  "There  has 
been  a  great  work  in  Tolland,  in  the  old  town ;  but  it  afterwards  broke 
out  in  another  part  of  the  town,  and  about  65  members  were  added." 

Asa  Kent  was  pastor  part  of  the  year  1802.  He  afterwards  wrote 
of  that  year  thus:  "D.  Ostrander,  the  presiding  elder,  took  me  to 
Tolland  circuit,  to  take  the  place  of  E.  Batchelor,  who  was  sick.  I 
stayed  there  till  November  8,  and  received  $12.83;  poor  encourage- 
ment, so  far  as  money  was  concerned.  My  clothes  were  threadbare — 
entirely  out — after  more  than  a  year's  travel,  and  I  had  been  obliged 
to  borrow  money  to  get  along,  besides  giving  my  note  for  my  horse; 
but  faith  in  God  gained  the  victory." 


2IO 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


The  oldest  records  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Tolland 
date  back  to  1839,  and  only  one  preacher  was  appointed  that  year,  indi- 
cating that  Tolland  had  become  a  separate  station. 

In  1832  Rev.  R.  W.  Allen  begun  his  ministry  at  Tolland.  1880 
he  wrote:  "Tolland!  What  associations  it  awakens!  Tolland  circuit 
was  my  first  in  the  itinerant  life,  and  can  I  forget  it?  Never,  never. 
Oh,  how  I  would  like  to  go  back  to  that  old  battlefield  and  see  and 
experience  what  I  then  saw  and  experienced.  *  *  The  Sabbath 
appointments  for  the  circuit  were  Tolland,  Stafford  Springs,  West 
Stafford,  Square  Pond,  and  Willington." 

In  1860  George  A.  Morse  was  stationed  at  Tolland.  He  preached 
two  years,  teaching  school  in  Winter.  He  was  very  successful  in  reach- 


MRS.    C.    N.    JOSLIN, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


L.  W.  JACOBS, 
President   Y.   P.    S.    C.    E. 


ing  some  of  the  most'  wicked  men  in  town.  But  this  was  not  all,  for 
he  found  here  a  certain  young  lady,  Miss  Sarah  A.  Chapman,  who 
afterward  became  his  wife. 

In  1873  Nelson  Goodrich  was  appointed  to  this  charge,  and  began 
to  hold  meetings  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  at  what  was  then  known 
as  Tolland  Depot.  Under  his  labors  and  those  of  his  successor,  Rev. 
L.  S.  Goodell,  there  was  a  general  awakening.  So  in  1874  a  new  so- 
ciety was  formed,  consisting  of  thirteen  members,  and  Nathan  Pierson 
appointed  leader.  In  1876  a  meeting-house  was  built.  This  church  is 
Wesley  Chapel. 

On  Wednesday,  May  5,  1880,  the  present  Lee  Church  was  dedi- 
cated, Rev.  Samuel  McBurney  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

For  some  time  the  need  of  a  parsonage  had  been  felt.  Finally  in 
the  Fall  of  1886  an  opportunity  presented  itself.  A  house  near  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


211 


church  was  secured  for  $800.  The  sum  of  $435  was  immediately  spent 
in  putting  the  building-  in  good  condition.  The  parsonage  is  valuable 
not  only  for  its  nearness  to  the  church,  but  because  of  its  associations, 
to  which  reference  has  already  been  made. 


1790. 
1791. 

PASTORS. 

Jesse  Lee                           1817-39. 
Nathaniel  B.  Mills 
Lemuel  Smith 

E,  Withe  v 
A.  Hale 

rd  ay  wood 

Menzies  Rainor 

R.  W.  Allen  (1832) 

1792. 

Hope  Hull 

and  others 

George  Roberts 

1839. 

Benj.  C.  Phelps 

F.  Albridge 

1840. 

Winsor  Ward 

1793- 

Joseph  Lovell 

1841-42. 

L.  Lemngwell 

1794. 

Lemuel  Smith 

1843- 

C.  Turner 

George  Pickering 

1844. 

Abram  Holway 

1795. 

Christopher  Spry 

1845- 

William  Leonard 

Nicholas  Snethen 

1846. 

H.  Torbush 

1796. 

Evan  Rogers 

1847- 

L.  Dow  Bentley 

Thomas  Cooper 

William  Dixon 

1797-98. 

Lawrence  McCoombs 

Rev.  Mr.  Stoddard 

1799. 

Daniel  Ostrander 

Josiah  Benton 

1800. 

Abner  Wood 

^55- 

H.  W.  Smith 

1801. 

Augustus  Jocelyn 

1856. 

Jabez  Pack 

Henry  Fames 

1858. 

Caleb  D.  Rogers 

1802. 

Elijah  Batchelor 

1860. 

T.  W.  Douglas 

Alexander  McLean 

George  A.  Morse 

1803. 

Augustus  Jocelyn 

1861-62. 

George  A.  Morse 

Elijah  Batchelor 

1873- 

Nelson  Goodrich 

1804. 

John  Gave 

1874- 

L.  S.  Goodell 

1805-6. 

Noble  W.  Thomas 

1880-82. 

William  Turkington 

Benj.  Hill 

1848. 

William  W.  Hurd 

1807. 

Hollis  Sampson 

1863. 

L.  A.  Dunham 

G.  R.  Norris 

1864-66. 

Benj.  M.  Walker 

1808. 

Benj.  F.  Lombard 

1867-68. 

H.  H.  Arnold 

1809. 

Benj.  P.  Hill 

1869. 

F.  A.  Metcalf 

William  P.  Hinman 

1871. 

E.  L.  Latham 

1816. 

Solomon  Winchester 

W.  Dixon 

Nathan  Paine 

1872. 

E.  L.  Latham 

1817-39. 

Benj.  Sabine 

1875- 

D.  G.  Ashley 

Ebenezer  Blake 

1876-77. 

J.  Cooper 

Daniel  Dorchester 

1878. 

J.  O.  Dodge 

M.  Fifield 

1883. 

F.  A.  Crafts 

William  Ramsdell 

1884-85. 

J.  H.  Sherman 

"FTi-mll 

1886-88. 

J.  B.  Ackley 

Oti" 

1890-93. 

John  Thompson 

John  W.  Case 

1894-96. 

J.  B.  Ackley 

i 

-  Wolcott 

1897. 

J.  Q.  Adams 

M.  E.  CHURCH,  VERNON,  CONN. 

The  Methodist  Church  at  Vernon,  like  most  Methodist  churches, 
had  its  origin  in  a  Class  Meeting. 

Its  first  leader  \vas  James  Whitney.  Henry  Bennett  was  twice 
appointed  to  this  office. 

Students  from  Weslevan  University,  Middletown,  preached  in  the 


THE  VERNON   CHURCH. 

schoolhouse  until  it  was  too  small  to  accommodate  the  increasing  con- 
gregation. 

This  suggested  a  House  of  Worship,  and  S.  S.  Talcott,  John  H. 
Dobson,  G.  H.  Miner  and  E.  P.  Clarke  were  chosen  to  purchase  the 
Universalist  Church  edifice  in  Bolton,  formerly  a  Methodist  church. 


THE    VERNON    PARSONAGE. 


In  June  the  house  was  taken  down  and  removed  to  a  building  lot 
bought  of  Dudley  Morris  for  the  purpose.     It  was  enlarged  and  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


2I3 


interior  remodeled,  and  through  the  efforts  of  Miss  Emma  Dobson, 
was  furnished  with  an  organ.  Miss  Dobson  gave  her  services  as  or- 
ganist. 

The   house   was   dedicated   in   the  October  following,   President 


REV.  D.  W.  ADAMS. 


MRS.   D.  W.   ADAMS. 


Chadbourne  of  Wesleyan  University  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

From  this  time  until  1872  the  church  was  supplied  with  preaching 
from  Wesleyan  University. 

A  resident  pastor  was  considered  necessary  in  1872,  and  an  in- 


GEORGE  N.  PHELPS, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MRS.    S.    MARIA   WALKER. 
Epworth  League  President. 


crease  of  salary  assured.    S.  S.  Talcott  and  George  Miner  bought  the 
place  adjoining  the  church  property  on  the  west  to  hold  as  a  parson- 


0.A  SOUVENIR  HISTORY- 

2I4 

age,  and  Rev.  S.  O.  Benton  was  sent  from  the  Conference  to  this  field. 
He  says  in  recording  his  first  Sunday's  experience  among  this  people: 
"A  congregation  of  about  forty  made  their  way  over  muddy  roads  and 
through  a  driving  rain  and  sleet  to  hear  and  greet  the  'new  minister.' 
The  cordiality  of  that  meeting  will  not  be  forgotten  by  the  pastor." 
In  this  year  the  studying  of  the  "International  Series"  began  in 

the  Sunday  School. 

The  house  of  worship  was  improved  by  removing  the  plaster  and 

substituting  a  board  ceiling. 

A  cabinet  organ,  costing  $300,  was  placed  in  the  audience  room, 
being  chiefly  the  generous  gift  of  S.  S.  Talcott.  The  church  was 
newly  upholstered,  at  a  cost  of  $350.  This  expense  was  assumed  by 
the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  At  the  close  of  Rev.  W.  A.  Taylor's  pastor- 
ate, in  1886,  it  was  voted  to  unite  the  two  churches  of  Wapping  and 
Vernon,  the  preacher  to  reside  at  Wapping.  Mr.  Hamman  succeeded 
Mr.  Taylor  and  remained  one  year. 

From  this  time  until  1892  the  church  had  temporary  supply,  and 
following  this  an  interregnum  of  about  three  years,  with  no  pastor 
and  a  closed  church,  until  the  appointment  of  the  present  incumbent, 
D.  W.  Adams,  who  has  served  the  church  since  February,  1895. 

In  1895  improvements  were  made  upon  the  interior  of  the  church 
edifice,  a  convenient  vestry  being  the  result. 

The  same  year  an  Epworth  League. was  organized  with  about 
forty  members,  under  the  efficient  president,  Mrs.  S.  Maria  Walker, 
who  has  served  the  League  in  this  capacity  from  its  organization  until 
January,  1898. 

The  League  has  continued  to  grow  in  numbers  and  usefulness. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  with  Mrs.  S.  E.  Talcott  as  president,  is  a 
true  handmaiden  of  the  church,  both  as  a  social  and  financial  factor. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards— W.  E.  Chamberlin,  S.  F.  Perkins,  R.  M.  Walker, 
G.  N.  Phelps,  W.  S.  Belding,  N.  H.  Lee,  L.  A.  Merrill,  Mrs.  S.  E. 
Talcott,  Miss  Lydia  Talcott. 

Recording  Steward — Mrs.  S.  E.  Talcott. 

Treasurer — S.  F.  Perkins. 

Trustees—  R.  M.  Walker,  N.  H.  Lee,  A.  Parker,  W.  E.  Chamber- 
lin, W.  S.  Belding,  S.  F.  Perkins,  S.  E.  Talcott,  W.  Wilkie,  G.  N. 
Phelps. 

Sunday  School— Superintendent,  G.  N.  Phelps;  Librarian,  Charles 
Belding:  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  A.  Chamberlin;  Organist,  Mrs. 
Albert  Parker. 

Epworth  League— President,  D.  W.  Reynolds;  First  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Israel  Johnson;  Second  Vice  President,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Chamberlin; 
T?W  i£e  President>  Miss  Louise  Allen;  Fourth  Vice  President,  Mrs. 
D.  W.  Reynolds;  Treasurer,  Arthur  Chamberlin;  Secretary,  A.  T. 
Adams. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  STERLING,  CONN. 

The  town  of  Sterling  was  originally  a  part  of  Voluntown.  It  oc- 
cupies the  southeast  corner  of  Windham  county,  and  is  nine  miles  long, 
with  an  average  width  of  three  miles.  It  was  incorporated  in  1794. 
The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  John  Sterling,  who  gave  the  town 
a  public  library.  The  first  meeting-house  erected  in  this  town  was  in 


THE    STERLING    C 


1797 — Baptist.  Some  years  ago  there  was  a  strong  desire  for  a  new 
church  in  Sterling.  A  series  of  meetings  were  held  in  private  houses 
in  the  fall  of  1892,  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Alice  Haynor  of 
Oneco.  The  Sterling  Dying  &  Finishing  Company  interested  itself 
in  the  project  and  kindly  permitted  the  people  to  worship  in  one  of  its 
unused  rooms.  Various  pastors  from  the  neighboring  churches 
preached  for  the  people  until  February,  1893,  when  Rev.  S.  G.  Dorsey 


STERLING  DYING  &  FINISHING  COMPANY. 


2l6  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

was  appointed  pastor  in  charge.  Some  time  previous  to  this  a  scheme 
was  set  on  foot  to  build  a  place  of  worship.  Mr.  Checkley  Hall  very 
generously  donated  a  very  suitable  lot  of  land  on  which  to 
build.  February  2Oth,  1895,  the  present  Methodist  church  was 
dedicated  amid  great  rejoicing.  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  D.  D.,  of 
Boston,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  Rev.  Mr.  Dorsey  re- 
mained pastor  until  April,  1896.  Rev.  S.  V.  B.  Cross  was 
then  appointed  pastor,  and  has  been  pastor  since  then.  The  Sun- 
day school  was  organized  some  months  before  the  erection  of  the 
church.  George  Marsh  was  the  first  superintendent.  But  his  work 
soon  called  him  away,  and  Matthew  Barr  was  appointed  in  his  place, 
and  has  served  in  that  capacity  ever  since. 


NORWICH  DISTRICT  LEAGUE. 
By  Charles  Mitchell. 

Rapid  growth  has  not  been  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of 
the  Norwich  District  League.  There  has  been  growth  of  a  healthy, 
substantial  sort.  In  work  attempted  and  work  done  we  may  claim  a 
worthy  place  with  our  sister  Leagues  of  the  New  England  Southern 
Conference. 

About  ten  years  ago  the  Norwich  District  League  was  organized. 
Faithful,  earnest  work  was  done  to  make  it  a  power  in  the  direction 
of  young  people's  work  in  our  churches.  Able,  devoted  men,  many  of 
whom  are  now  doing  noble  work  on  the  other  districts,  presided  over 
its  affairs;  and  their  work  has  told  in  the  upbuilding  of  a  strong,  help- 
ful organization. 

The  Norwich  District  League  comprises  the  following  chapters: 
Baltic,  Burnside,  Danielson,  Attawaugan,  East  Glastonbury,  East 
Blackstone,  East  Hampton,  East  Thompson,  Hockanum,  Jewett  City, 
Lyme,  Manchester,  Mapleville,  Mashapaug,  Millville,  Moodus, 
Moosup,  Mystic,  New  London,  Noank,  Norwich,  Old  Mystic,  Quar- 
ryville,  Portland,  Putnam,  Rockville,  South  Coventry,  South  Man- 
chester, Stafford  Springs,  Staffordville,  Thompsonville,  Tolland, 
Uncasville,  Vernon,  Wapping,  Westerly,  Willimantic.  These  thirty- 
seven  chapters  show  an  aggregate  membership  of  1650. 

The  annual  convention,  at  which  officers  are  elected  and  the  busi- 
ness of  the  year  transacted,  is  held  in  the  month  of  October.  The 
District  is  divided  into  sub-districts,  in  which  conventions  are  held 
from  time  to  time.  These  smaller  gatherings  are  useful  in  bringing 
the  chapters  into  close  touch  with  each  other  and  stimulating  them  to 
a  rivalry  in  good  works. 

The  outlook  is  bright.  There  is  a  spirit  of  hopefulness  and  a  zeal 
for  work  which  speaks  well  for  the  future.  While  we  work  for  and 
expect  results,  we  are  looking  with  faith  and  confidence  to  Him  who 
giveth  the  increase. 


VOLUME  III 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


New  England  Southern  Conference 


IN    THREE    VOLUMES 


VOL.   I.    NEW   BEDFORD    DISTRICT 

VOL.   II.   NORWICH  DISTRICT 

VOL.    III.   PROVIDENCE  DISTRICT 

VOL.  III.  PROVIDENCE  DISTRICT 


COMPILED    AND    EDITED    BY 

REV.  RENNETTS  C.  MILLER,  S.  T.  B. 

Pastor,   Methodist   Episcopal   Church,   Nantasket,    Mass. 

HISTORICAL    SKETCH  OF  CONFERENCE  BY    REV.   M.  J.  TALBOT,  D.  D. 


IT  CONTAINS   SPECIAL   HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

OF    THE    DISTRICT,     THE     CAMPMEETING     ASSOCIATIONS,     THE     DISTRICT      EPWORTH 
LEAGUE,  THE   VARIOUS   SOCIAL   UNIONS,    AND    OTHER    ORGANIZATIONS;    HIS- 
TORICAL    SKETCH     OF     EACH    CHURCH,    WITH    OVER    FOUR    HUNDRED 
ENGRAVINGS   OK    CHURCHES,     PARSONAGES,    PASTORS,    PASTORS' 
WIVES,    SUNDAY-SCHOOL     SUPERINTENDENTS,     KPWORTH 
LEAGUE  PRESIDENTS,    PROMINENT    LAYMEN,  ETC. 
OVER   THREE    HUNDRED    PAGES. 


PICTURES  AND    BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   THE    SUPERANNUATES,  ETC. 


1897  —  PUBLISHED  —  1897 

WITH  CONFERENCE   CONSENT  AND  APPROVAL,  BY 
REV.  RENNETTS  C.  MILLER, 

NANTASKET,  MASS. 


COPYRIGHT,  1897, 

BY 
REV.  RENNBTTS  C.  MILLER. 


I     DEDICATE     THIS     VOLUME 

TTo  /IDs   Mite, 

IN    LOVING    GRATITUDE    FOR    HER    INVALUABLE    ASSISTANCE, 
GOOD     JUDGMENT,      AND     CONSTANT     INSPIRATION 
AMIDST     THE     IRKSOME     AND     OFTEN     DIS- 
COURAGING    WORK     OF     PUBLISH- 
ING    THIS     HISTORY. 


EDITORIAL  NOTES. 


After  about  fourteen  months  of  labor  in  addition  to  my  regular 
pastoral  work,  I  send  forth  this  third  and  last  volume  of  the  Souvenir 
History  to  the  public.  The  many  kind  words  that  have  been  said 
about  Volumes  I.  and  II.  have  been  very  gratifying.  It  is  hoped  that 
this  volume  may  even  more  fully  meet  the  expectation  of  the  public. 

The  individual  church  sketches  have  been  written  mostly  by  the 
present  pastors,  unless  otherwise  indicated.  Those  marked  *  *  * 
indicate  that  the  sketch  was  not  written  by  the  present  pastor.  Here 
we  might  make  special  mention  of  the  fact  that  the  closing  paragraphs 
of  Central  Church,  Brockton,  Mathewson  Street,  Providence,  Centre- 
ville,  R.  I.,  and  a  few  others  were  written  by  the  Editor. 

Occasionally  the  Editor  has  added  important  historical  facts  in  the 
churches  that  have  come  to  him  fully  authenticated. 

We  wish  to  call  special  attention  to  the  very  interesting  "Intro- 
duction" by  the  Presiding  Elder,  Dr.  E.  C.  Bass.  It  is  an  exceedingly 
valuable  contribution  to  the  History. 

In  the  Scituate  church  sketch  is  a  picture  of  the  "Old  Oaken 
Bucket."  Here  it  may  be  stated  further  that  this  is  a  recent  picture 
of  the  famous  Old  Oaken  Bucket  well  at  the  home  where  Samuel 
Woodworth  lived  when  young  and  caught  the  inspiration  to  write  his 
great  song. 

After  much  correspondence  and  inquiry  we  have  still  failed  to 
get  the  pictures  of  all  the  deceased  members  of  the  Conference. 
However,  only  a  few  are  wanting.  In  regard  to  these  we  may  be 
allowed  to  quote  from  the  Editor's  Introduction  of  Volume  I:  "As 
the  countless  friends  and  spiritual  children  of  these  heroes  of  earlier 
days  look  upon  their  faces  in  these  pages,  doubtless  many  tender  and 
sacred  memories  will  be  revived.  If  some  lukewarm  and,  perhaps, 
back-slidden  souls, 

'Seeing,  shall  take  heart  again,' 

I  shall  feel  that  I  have  not  spent  in  vain  the  many  precious  hours 
upon  this  History." 

It  is  needless  to  add  that  the  Editor  is  glad  to  find  his  part  of  the 
work  is  completed.  It  has  been  a  great  burden  from  first 
to  last.  But  the  many  words  of  cheer  from  the  members  of 
the  Conference,  and  others,  have  encouraged  him  to  not  grow  weary. 
Doubtless  the  editorial  part  of  the  work  will  not  bear  the  severest 


VII  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

scrutiny,  but  the  Editor  has  tried  to  do  it  faithfully  and  conscientiously 
in  the  general  interests  of  the  pastors,  laymen,  and  churches. 

A  perusal  of  this  volume  will  bring  to  the  attention  of  the  public 
that  at  least  three  Methodist  writers  of  no  mean  reputation  reside 
within  the  bounds  of  this  district,  viz. :  Mrs.  O.  W.  Scott,  wife  of  Rev. 
O.  W.  Scott  of  Campello,  (South  St.,  Brockton),  Mass.,  Lanta  Wilson 
Smith,  wife  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Smith,  at  Phenix,  R.  I.,  and  Rev.  Dallas 
Lore  Sharp.  Inasmuch  as  the  Editor  failed  to  call  attention  to  Mr. 
Sharp  in  connection  with  his  church  (Porter  Church,  East  Wey- 
mouth)  sketch,  he  may  here  add  that  Mr.  Sharp  has  written  a 
brilliant  work  entitled  "The  Life  and  Times  of  Christ,"  that  for  two 
years  has  been  running  in  the  National  Magazine.  He  is  also  a  con- 
stant contributor  to  some  of  the  leading  magazines. 

We  wish  to  call  special  attention  to  the  general  index  of  the  three 
volumes  found  at  the  close  of  this  volume. 

Again,  we  commend  to  the  public  the  American  Engraving  Co., 
of  Boston,  who  have  made,  with  a  few  exceptions,  the  engravings  for 
this  volume.  The  press  work  has  been  done  by  J.  E.  Farwell  &  Co., 
Boston,  whose  long  established  office  and  superior  work  is  worthy  of 
the  patronage  of  our  people. 

Lastly,  I  want  to  give  credit  where  credit  is  due.  I  owe  a  great  debt 
of  gratitude  to  the  three  Presiding  Elders,  Rev.  T.  J.  Everett,  Rev. 
G.  H.  Bates,  and  Rev.  E.  C.  Bass,  D.  D.,  for  their  hearty  co-operation 
and  priceless  counsel  in  many  ways.  I  cheerfully  acknowledge,  once 
more,  the  invaluable  assistance  of  Rev.  W.  I.  Ward,  whose  proof- 
reading and  counsel  have  spared  this  volume  from  many  a  blunder. 
I  thank,  too,  most  heartily  the  pastors  for  their  help  and  encourage- 
ment. 

Again,  I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  her  to  whom  I  have 
dedicated  this  third  volume.  She  has  toiled  patiently  night  and  day 
these  many  months,  entering  heartily  into  every  part  of  the  work. 
To  her  good  judgment  and  sweet  counsel,  as  well  as  arduous  labors, 
more  than  all  else,  perhaps,  is  clue  whatever  success  has  attended  the 
publication  of  this  History. 

Doubtless  many  errors  will  appear,  but  if  the  public  could  only 
know  our  tireless  efforts  to  prevent  them  it  would  hesitate  long  before 
indulging  in  severe  criticism. 

RENNETTS  C.  MILLER. 
Nantasket,  Mass.,  Mar.  18.  1898. 


INDEX      OF        VOLUME      III.* 

THE    CHURCHES. 

Arnold's    Mills 5  Newport— Thames   St 119 

Attleboro    9  North    Easton    125 

Berkeley,    (R.    I.) 14  North    Stoushton    215 

Bristol     18  Pawtucket— First    129 

Brockton,    Central 25  Pawtucket— Thomson    133 

Brockton,    Franklin 30  Phoenix    136 

Brockton,    Pearl    Street 33  Pontiac— Swedish    140 

Brockton,    South    Street 37  Portsmouth    141 

Brockton,    Swedish 41  Providence — Asbury    147 

Central  Falls 42  Providence— Broadway   150 

Centreville,    (R.    I.) 45  Providence— Chestnut  St 154 

Chartley    48  Providence — Cranston   St 158 

Cochesett    53  Providence— Haven    162 

Drownville   55  Providence— Hope    St 166 

East    Brain  tree 57  Providence— Math  ewson  St 170 

East    Greenwich    59  Providence— St.    Paul's    181 

East    Mansfield.    First 200  Providence— Swedish   199 

East    Weymouth 63  Providence— Tabernacle    185 

East   Weymouth,    Porter 72  Providence— Trinity    188 

Foxboro    74  Providence — Wanskuck    238 

Hanover 77  Providence— Washington  Park 191 

Hebronville    80  Rockland— Central    195 

Hill's    Grove    82  Rockland— Hatherly    196 

Hing-ham   85  Scituate    202 

Holbrook  88  South    Braintree    208 

Hope    91  Stoughton   212 

Hope  Valley   94  Wakeficld   217 

Hull    97  Wanskuck    III.,    220 

Mansfield  101  Warren   221 

Nantasket  105  Washington    225 

Newport— First  112  West  Abington   228 

Newport— Middletown   117  Wickford   232 

Newport— Swedish 124  Woonsocket    235 

SPECIAL  ARTICLES. 

Brockton   Meth.    Social  Union 23  Martha's  Vineyard   Camp   Meeting.  .XVII 

Conference   Home   Missions XXVII    Martha's  Vineyard  Revival XXXIX 

Conference  Resolutions    276-279   Nutting,  J.  H.,  and  His  Work XLII 

Cuinmings,  S.  S.,  and  His  Work XLV    Providence   Deaconess  Home XXXI 

East  Greenwich  Academy XXI  Providence  District  Epworth  League. ...2 

Fall  River  Deaconess  Home XXXV    Providence   Meth.    Social   Union 145 

Hamlen,  G.  M.,  and  His  Work XL VII    Superannuates— Biography    269-75 

Historical   Sketch    of    Conference.... XIII    Statistical  Report  fifty  years  ago •  -280-283 

Introduction  by  E.  C.  Bass,  D.  D X    Woman's    Foreign   Miss'y    Society XLI 

James,  J.  H.,  and  His  Work XLV    Women's  Home  Miss'y  Society XXIX 

SPECIAL    PICTURES. 

Bass,    Rev.    E.    C 1  Loheed,    W.    J 22 

Seals,    W.    E 23  Martha's  Vineyard   Camp-Meeting 

East  Greenwich   Academy XVIII    XIX    XX,  XXI 

XXII.,  XXIIL,    XXVL,    111  Old   Oaken   Bucket 206 

Everett,   Mrs.  T.   J.  XXIX  Parkin,    Rev.   Frank  P 26 

Pall   River   Deaconesses XXXVII  Presiding    Elders 261 

Fall  River  Deaconess  Home XXXV  Providence   Deaconesses XXVII 

Farnham,  J.  E.  C 145  Providence   Deaconess  Home XXXI 

Flint,    John  D XXXVI  Tregaskis,   James    XLVIII 

Jones,  Edwin   F XLVIII 

DISTINGUISHED     METHODIST  MINISTERS     FORMERLY     MEM- 
BERS   OF    OUR  CONFERENCE. 

Bates,    L.    B 263    Nutter,  C.    S 264 

Bidwell,    Ira   G.    (deceased) 251    Payne,   C.   H 262 

BInney,    Amos   (deceased) 263    Pitblado,    C.    B 268 

Canoll,  A.    (deceased) 251    Raymond,    B.    P 262 

Chapman,   J.  A.   M 264    Reed    Geo.    E 262 

Dorchester,    Daniel    262    Steele     W    F 262 

Gallagher,   C.   W 264    Stevens,    Abel 268 

Goodell,   C.  L 264    Taylor,    E.    M 264 

Gracey,    S.    L 263    Taylor,   E.    T.    (deceased) 263 

Haynes,    Emory    J 264    Townsend.    L.    T 262 

Hatfield,    R.   M.    (deceased) 263    Trafton,    Mark    263 

Hamilton,    J.    Benson 251    Upham,    S.    F 262 

Hutchinson,    B.    W 26S    Wagner,  F    J 262 

Jordan,   D.   A 264    Whedon,    D.    D 251 

Klmball,    H.    D 264    Whitaker,    N.    T 251 

MacDonald,   Wm 264    Worth,  W.    T 264 

MeChesney,    Ensign 263 

"—For  a  general  index  of  the  three  volumes  see  close   of    Vol.    III. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  PROVIDENCE  DISTRICT. 
By  E.  C.  Bass,  D.  D.,  Presiding  Elder. 

Rhode  Island,  the  smallest  State  in  the  Union,  was  a  very  large 
part  of  New  England  in  colonial  days.  A  letter  was  once  sent  from 
JEngland  to  some  person  "in  New  York,  near  Newport,  R.  I."  Pre- 
vious to  1776  Newport  was  the  chief  city  of  America. 

Jesse  Lee  visited  Rhode  Island  the  first  week  of  September,  1789, 
and  preached  in  Charlestown  the  3d  of  that  month.  This  was  the  first 
sermon  by  a  Methodist  itinerant  in  the  land  of  Roger  Williams.  The 
next  year,  on  his  way  to  the  "Old  Elm,"  in  Boston — he  must  needs 
go  through  this  territory — he  preached  in  Newport  (June  30),  and 
in  Bristol  (July  2,  1790),  and  also  in  Warren  and  Providence.  In 
Warren  he  was  admitted  to  the  pulpits  of  other  denominations.  In 
Providence  he  preached  five  times  in  a  private  house  and  several  times 
in  the  Court  House. 

Ten  miles  from  Providence  (would  that  we  knew  the  spot)  Lee 
met  Garretson  and  famous  "Black  Harry,"  returning  from  Nova  Scotia. 
Garretson  and  Harry  visited  Providence,  where  both  preached — the 
latter  to  a  congregation  of  more  than  i  ,000. 

In  '91  Bishop  Asbury  was  in  Newport,  June  16-17;  in  Bristol, 
June  18;  in  Providence,  June  19.  That  same  year,  November  n,  Lee 
found  his  way  to  General  Lippitt's,  in  Cranston  (near  Phenix),  and 
preached  to  the  general  and  his  family. 

Enoch  Mudge — the  first  native  New  Englander  to  join  the  Con- 
ference— had  his  first  appointment  within  this  territory — on  Greenwich 
circuit  in  '93. 

Zadoc  Priest  was  the  first  Methodist  minister  to  die  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  his  death  and  burial  were  here,  in  Norton,  Mass.  He  died 
June  22,  1/96,  in  his  27th  year,  having  reached  two  and  one-half  years. 
So  early  and  so  well  was  this  territory  hallowed ! 

In  '92  Providence  was  one  of  the  four  circuits  in  New  England, 
and  Lemuel  Smith  was  preacher  in  charge.  In  '93  the  circuits  in  this 
territory  were  Warren  and  Greenwich.  Warren  circuit  included  New- 
port, Bristol,  Cranston,  Povidence  and  "several  places  in  Massachu- 
setts." Our  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  Warren  and  dedicated 
by  Lee  September,  24.  '94.  His  text  was  Hag.  ii.,  9. 

That  same  year  Lee  was  again  at  General  Lippitt's  and  found 
Mrs.  Lippitt  and  daughter  seeking  spiritual  light,  having  been  awak- 
ened by  a  sermon  preached  one  year  before.  The  parents  and  daugh- 
ter all  became  members  of  "the  church  in  their  house."  The  general 
built  a  chapel  on  his  estate  for  the  use  of  the  Methodists.  That  chapel 


X  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

became  a  place  for  great  quarterly  meetings.  On  such  occasions  Mrs. 
Lippitt  would  lodge  thirty  guests  in  her  fifteen  spare  beds.  Asbury 
was  at  Lippitt's  July  12,  1800;  and  June  12,  1802,  Asbury  and  What- 
coat  were  both  at  Lippitt's,  and  there  ordained  several  preachers,  who 
could  not  be  at  the  Conference  session. 

Another  fit  Mecca  for  all  Methodists  of  this  District  and  Confer- 
ence is  in  Norton  (near  the  grave  of  young  Priest),  where,  in  1805,  the 
third  camp-meeting  in  New  England,  and  the  first  east  of  the  Con- 
necticut River,  was  held,  on  the  estate  of  "Father  Newcomb,"  at 
whose  home  Priest  ended  his  earthly  career.  At  that  camp-meeting 
George  Pickering  presided,  assisted  by  eleven  members  of  the  Con- 
ference and  several  local  preachers,  among  them  Lorenzo  Dow. 

In  1798  Joshua  Hall  was  in  charge  of  Providence  Circuit,  and 
lived  in  Providence.  November  24  he  organized  a  class  of  five  persons 
— Ann  Remington,  Martha  Clark,  Mehitable  Potter,  Shubal  Cady  and 
his  wife  Annie. 

The  first  baptism  by  a  Methodist  minister  in  Providence  was  in 
1801,  Joseph  Snelling  officiating.  John  Finnegan  was  the  first  Meth- 
odist minister  to  administer  the  Lord's  Supper  in  Providence.  The 
date  was  August  22,  1801.  There  were  twelve  communicants.  The 
first  quarterly  meeting  in  Providence  was  held  August  12-13,  I^O3. 
It  was  held  in  the  Town  House.  George  Pickering  preached.  Sep- 
tember. 15,  1803,  the  society  had  thirty-three  members. 

Our  first  house  of  worship  in  Providence  was  dedicated  June  8, 
1816,  on  the  corner  of  Aborn  and  Washington  streets.  January  I,  '22, 
Chestnut  Street  Church  was  dedicated.  In  '33  fifty  members  colon- 
ized on  the  East  Side,  at  the  corner  of  Power  and  South  Main  streets. 

For  five  years,  1793-97,  our  circuits  were  Greenwich,  Warren  and 
Newport.  In  1803  the  names  were  Providence,  Norton,  Mass.,  and 
Newport. 

The  name  New  England  Conference  did  not  appear  until  1800. 
Up  to  that  year  the  one  annual  Conference  of  Methodism  in  America 
was  held  in  sections.  Then  there  was  no  General  Conference  and  no 
legislation  was  completed  until  every  section  of  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence had  acted. 

The  names  of  districts  appeared  in  1801,  and  this  territory  was  in 
Boston  District  until  1813.  From  '13  to  '30  Providence  and  vicinity 
were  in  New  London  District.  In  1830  the  present  good  name  was 
first  used,  and,  excepting  the  period  from  '43  to  '48,  has  been  in  use 
ever  since.  During  that  period  the  District  embracing  Providence  was 
New  Bedford. 

The  boundaries  of  Providence  District  have  been  changed  again 
and  again.  In  '39  Worcester  and  Lowell  were  in  this  District.  In 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  XI 

1840  Fall  River,  New  Bedford.  Edgartown  and  Nantucket  were  in 
Providence  District.  For  three  years  this  District  was  extended  to  the 
Connecticut  River.  It  now  includes  all  but  five  of  our  churches  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  extends  from  Hope  Valley  and  Wakefield  in  Rhode 
Island  to  Hull  and  Scituate  in  Massachusetts. 

Great  and  good  men  formerly  presided  over  this  territory — Jesse 
Lee,  Ezekiel  Cooper,  George  Pickering,  Joshua  Taylor,  John  Brod- 
head,  Asa  Kent,  Erastus  Otis,  J.  A.  Merrill,  Orange  Scott,  Bartholo- 
mew Otheman. 

A  few  of  the  appointments  of  the  early  days  are  worth  recalling: 
'93 — Greenwich,    D.    Kendall    and    Enoch    Mudge;    Warren,    Philip 
Wager. 

'99 — Warren,  John  Brodhead;  Greenwich,  Stephen  Hull;  Provi- 
dence, Joshua  Hall. 

1826 — Providence,  Asa  Kent;  Bristol,  Edward  T.  Taylor;  New- 
port, Enoch  Mudge. 

'34 — East  Greenwich,  James  Porter;  Bristol,  Jefferson  Hascall. 
'37 — Providence,  East,  Abel  Stevens. 
'39 — Providence,  West,  A.  D.  Merrill. 

Twenty-seven  annual  Conference  sessions  have  been  held  on 
Providence  District.  The  New  England  Conference  met  at  Bristol  in 
'16,  and  in  Providence  in  '23  and  '32.  The  first  session  of  Providence 
Conference  was  held  in  Providence  in  '41,  and  eleven  subsequent  ses- 
sions have  been  held  in  the  same  city.  Bristol  has  entertained  this 
Conference  twice,  Newport  and  Brockton  each  three  times,  and  four 
annual  sessions  have  been  held  in  Warren;  and  this  Conference,  or- 
ganized in  1840,  meets  at  Attleboro  in  '98 — its  twenty-fifth  session  on 
this  District  in  fifty-eight  years. 

The  first  report  of  members  on  our  present  territory  was  in  1793, 
and  as  follows:  Greenville,  16;  Warren,  58. 

The  slow, but  steady  and  substantial  growth  of  Methodism  within 
the  present  limits  of  Providence  District  appears  in  the  following 
figures: 

Members. 

1798 162 

1811   604 

1821 1,107 

1831 1,662 

1841 — Charges,   19   2,625 

1851 — Charges,  26   2,829 

1861 — Charges,  33   3.762 

1871— Charges.  38   5-595 

1881 — Charges,  45    6,479 

1891 — Charges.  64   8,451 

1897— Charges,  65    8,865 


XII 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


Charles  Wesley  once  or  more  visited  this  territory  and  preached 
at  Newport,  and  Asbury  traversed  this  territory  several  times.  It  was 
at  Newport  that  he  beheld  for  the  first  time  a  steeple  on  a  Methodist 
church  and  that  same  steeple — the  first  in  all  Methodism  in  America, 
if  not  first  in  all  Methodism — still  stands,  and  the  most  devout  English- 
speaking  congregation  in  the  District  worships  within  that  venerable 
house  of  worship,  notwithstanding  the  lament  (and  prophecy?)  of  the 
good  bishop. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  beautiful  Souvenir  History  of  Provi- 
dence District,  so  rich,  and  yet  so  meager,  in  its  records  of  heroic  men 
and  times,  will  inspire  the  churches  of  to-day  and  to-morrow  to  make 
better  history,  and  to  leave  better  records  of  their  work. 


REV.     XORRIS     G.     LTPPITT. 

( Deceased  ) 
A  famous  early  local  preacher  of  our     'onference 


XIII 


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XVI 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


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REV.    EDWARD    C.    BASS,    D.    D. 

Presiding  Elder  Providence  District. 

Rev.  Edward  Gary  Bass  was  born  at  Moretown,  Vt.,  Oct.  5,  1836.  His  parents  were  of  old  New  England 
families.  The  first  of  his  ancestors  in  America,  who  died  in  1694,  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church 
in  Braintree,  Mass.,  for  fifty  years.  His  father's  home  was  a  "  Methodist  Tavern  "  for  the  clerical  itinerants. 
Four  of  his  mother's  brothers  were  honored  members  of  Annual  Conferences.  He  was  converted  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  and  received  an  exporter's  license  three  years  later.  His  first  sermon  was  delivered  in  West  Newbury, 
Vt.,  in  July,  1855.  He  was  licensed  a  local  preacher  in  1856.  He  received  his  college  education  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Vermont,  graduating  in  1859.  After  graduation  he  spent  two  years  teaching  in  Kentucky  and 
Arkansas.  In  April,  1861  he  married  Miss  Lucia  R.  Blair  of  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  soon  after  entered  the 


Vermont  Conference.  His  first  appointment  was  Pittsfield,  with  a  salary  of  $300.  The  record  of  his  thirty  - 
six  years  in  the  ministry  is  as  follows :  Fourteen  years  in  the  Vermont  Conference  ;  eleven  years  in  the  New 
Hampshire  Conference ;  three  years  in  the  Maine  Conference,  and  eight  years  in  this  Conference.  In  all  these 
Conferences  he  has  served  several  of  the  largest  churches.  While  all  of  his  partorates  have  been  marked  by  a 
deep  spiritual  work,  those  at  Springfield,  Vt.;  Lawrence,  Mass.;  St.  Johnsbury,  Plymouth,  Vt.;  and  at  Lebanon, 
N.  H.,  were  specially  blest  with  spiritual  harvests,  without  aid  of  evangelists.  At  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  a  $2800 
debt,  at  Taunton,  First  church,  a  $4000  debt,  and  at  Newport  a  $7000  debt,  were  lifted  from  the  churches. 
In  1884,  he  represented  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  at  the  General  Conference.  In  the  same  year  his 
Alma  Mater  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  D.  D.  He  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder  April  1896. 

"  Two  years  ago  Dr.  Bass  brought  to  the  eldership  to  which  he  was  appointed,  a  mature  judgment,  a  sym- 
metrical character,  a  frank,  genial,  lovable  spirit,  and  the  strength  of  a  long  and  successful  record  in  the  pastor- 
ate." His  presence  and  wise  counsels  are  proving  a  great  inspiration  to  the  district. 


PROVIDENCE    DISTRICT    EPWORTH    LEAGUE. 
By  Rev.  E.  F.  Studley. 

We  are  largely  indebted  to  Mrs.  I.  L.  James,  the  faithful  Record- 
ing Secretary  of  the  District  League,  till  her  health  compelled  her  to 
resign,  for  these  facts,  the  first  and  larger  part  of  this  article  being  her 
composition,  and  originally  appeared  in  "The  League  Light." 

Early  in  March,  1890,  a  circular  issued  by  Presiding  Elder  D.  A. 
Jordan  was  sent  to  all  young  people's  societies  connected  with  the 
Methodist  churches  on  Providence  District,  to  convene  in  the  Mathew- 
son  Street  Church,  Providence,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Dis- 
trict Epworth  League.  In  response  to  the  call  127  delegates,  repre- 
senting i, 600  young  people,  were  present.  After  organization  the  offi- 
cers were  elected,  with  Rev.  J.  F.  Cooper  of  Middletown  as  president, 
and  a  constitution,  prepared  by  Revs.  F.  P.  Parkin,  S.  O.  Benton  and 
B.  F.  Simon,  adopted.  The  evening  session  was  devoted  to  addresses 
upon  the  work  of  the  League. 

During  this  year  sub-district  conventions  were  held  at  Campello, 
Warren  and  Middletown,  and  League  Day  was  observed  at  Hebron 
camp-meeting.  Much  of  the  work  of  this  year  was  necessarily  ex- 
perimental, but  at  the  annual  convention,  held  at  Attleboro,  October  I, 
1890,  the  reports  of  the  officers  showed  the  necessity  and  practicability 
of  the  designs  of  the  District  League,  and  its  continued  existence  was 
assured.  At  this  time  Rev.  S.  H.  Day  was  elected  president,  to  suc- 
ceed Rev.  J.  F.  Cooper,  who  declined  to  serve  another  year. 

September  22,  1891,  the  District  League  assembled  in  East  Wey- 
mouth.  Early  in  the  year  the  president,  Rev.  S.  H.  Day,  had  been 
transferred  to  Morgantown,  W.  Va.  This  somewhat  hindered  the 
progress  of  the  League,  as  his  well-planned  work  for  the  year  could 
not  be  accomplished.  The  first  vice-president  declining  to  serve,  the 
work  fell  upon  the  second  vice-president,  Rev.  L.  G.  Horton,  who, 
in  spite  of  these  difficulties,  carried  forward  the  year's  work  faithfully 
and  successfully.  Five  new  leagues  were  formed,  nearly  all  the  leagues 
adopted  the  constitution  of  the  Epworth  League,  and  numerically  the 
leagues  increased  ten  per  cent.  Profitable  conventions  were  held  at 
Drownville  and  Hebron  camp  ground.  Rev.  L.  G.  Horton  was  elected 
president  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  fourth  annual  convention  was  held  in  the  Broadway  Church, 
Providence,  September  28,  1892.  Rev.  L.  G.  Horton  was  re-elected 
president.  The  work  accomplished  during  the  year  past  was  similar 
to  that  of  preceding  years — the  formation  of  new  leagues  and  the 
bringing  of  societies  bearing  other  names,  but  having  the  same  aims, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  3 

into  harmony  with  the  ideas  and  methods  of  work  of  the  Epworth 
League.    At  this  session  the  constitution  was  revised. 

At  Mansfield,  September  27,  1893,  the  fifth  annual  convention  was 
held.  During  this  year  there  had  existed  several  unions  of  local 
leagues,  which  in  part  took  the  place  of  the  group  conventions  that 
had  been  so  helpful  in  preceding  years.  Taken  as  a  whole,  the  year's 
work  showed  a  gain  along  all  lines.  The  marked  increase  in  the  num- 
ber of  junior  leagues  was  a  most  encouraging  feature.  Rev.  C.  E. 
Beals  of  Mansfield  was  elected  president.  Upon  invitation  of  Embury 
Chapter,  Central  Falls,  the  annual  convention  was  held  with  them, 
September  26,  1894.  This  was  a  year  of  sub-district  conventions. 
These  were  held  at  Attleboro,  Brockton  Central  Church  and  East 
Weymouth,  and  were  as  helpful  and  inspiring  as  those  held  annually. 
Four  new  leagues  were  formed,  and  general  prosperity  marked  the 
work  of  the  year.  Mr.  E.  W.  Thrasher  of  Attleboro  succeeded  the 
retiring  president,  Rev.  C.  E.  Beals. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Providence,  was  the  meeting  place  of  the  next 
annual  convention.  The  interest  and  enthusiasm  of  preceding  con- 
vention sessions  were  equalled,  if  not  exceeded.  Sub-district  conven- 
tions \v  ere  held  during  the  year  at  Wickford,  Hope  and  Campello,  and 
evening  mass  meetings  at  Trinity  Church,  Providence,  Warren,  Paw- 
tucket  and  East  Greenwich.  An  especial  effort  had  been  made  by  the 
president  to  stimulate  the  leagues  by  personal  visitation  and  helpful 
correspondence.  A  gain  in  interest  in  the  literary,  and  mercy  and  help 
departments  was  noticeable  from  the  reports  read. 

For  the  year  1895-96,  the  following  officers  were  elected: 

President,  Rev.  Elliott  F.  Studley;  First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Rev. 
Sherman  E.  Ellis;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Ingraham;  Third 
\ice-President,  Mr.  Herbert  E.  Drake;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Celia  I.  Booth;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Rev.  Florus  L.  Streeter; 
Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  I.  L.  James;  Treasurer,  Mr.  C.  C.  Phillips; 
Superintendent  Junior  League  Work,  Rev.  L.  G.  Horton. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  year  the  "League  Light"  was  established. 
Its  object  was  to  contain  a  directory  of  the  officers  of  the  chapters, 
to  be  a  means  of  communication  between  the  district  officers  and  the 
members,  and  to  contain  items  of  local  news.  Rallies  were  held  at 
Wakefield  and  Chestnut  Street  Church,  Providence,  and  the  officers 
visited  and  addressed  a  number  of  the  League  chapters. 

The  next  convention  was  held,  on  invitation,  with  the  chapter  at 
Bristol,  R.  L,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1896.  In  spite  of  the  near 
approach  of  the  convention  of  the  First  General  District  in  Provi- 
dence, there  was  a  good  attendance,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected : 


SOUl'EXIR  HISTORY. 
4 

President,  C.  C.  Phillips;  First  Vice-President,  Miss  Margaret  E. 
Eckley;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Ingraham;  Third  Vice- 
President,  Rev.  E.  F.  Studley;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss  Celia  I. 
Booth;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Rev.  Ambrie  Field;  Recording  Sec- 
retary, Miss  F.  F.  Ferguson;  Treasurer,  Mr.  E.  W.  Thrasher;  Super- 
intendent of  Junior  League  Work,  Rev.  L.  G.  Horton. 

It  was  voted  to  continue  "League  Light,"  under  the  charge  of 
the  Third  Vice-President. 

During  these  seven  years  the  original  membership  of  1,600  has 
doubled,  there  being  about  58  chapters  at  present,  and  24  Junior 
Leagues  have  been  organized,  reporting  a  membership  in  April  of 

1,139- 

The  last  annual  convention  was  held  in  Hope  Street  Church, 
Providence,  July  7,  1897.  It  was  an  inspiring  occasion.  The  officers 
elected  for  the  year  are  as  follows : 

President,  Mr.  John  M.  Nye,  Phenix,  R.  I.;  First  Vice-President, 
Miss  Mary  L.  Thurston,  Newport,  R.-L;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss 
Emma  E.  Carey,  Bristol,  R.  L;  Third  Vice-President,  Rev.  E.  F. 
Studley,  Mansfield,  Mass.;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Herbert 
Lovell,  Brockton,  Mass.;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Rev.  Ambrie 
Field,  East  Greenwich,  R.  L;  Treasurer,  Mr.  W.  W.  Chase,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.;  Superintendent  Junior  League  Work,  Rev.  J.  S.  Bridge- 
ford,  Providence,  R.  I. 


ARNOLD'S    MILLS   CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ARNOLD'S  MILLS,  R.  I. 

The  history  of  this  church  previous  to  1845  'ls  verT  meagre. 
In  1791  Jesse  Lee  preached  in  this  vicinity.    The  service  is  said  to 
have  been  held  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Wilson  White,  on 
the  Sheldonville  road. 

A  Mr.  Hathaway  attended  a  camp-meeting  in  Massachusetts  at 

which  Jesse  Lee  was  present 
and  delivered  one  of  his  cap- 
tivating discourses.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  sermon 
Hathaway  invited  Lee  to 
visit  his  house  in  Cumber- 
land to  hold  a  service,  and 
Lee  preached  at  Hathaway' s 
house  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  in  Cumberland,  the 
town  in  which  Arnold's  Mills 
is  situated. 

In    1799   the   little    society 
was  taken  into  the  confines  of  the  Warren  circuit. 

For  many  years  the  society  was  too  small  and  weak  to  build  a 
church,  and  class-meetings,  as  well  as  preaching  services,  were  held  at 
the  home  of  Mr.  John  Bishop,  2nd,  who  was  a  deacon  in  the  "Free 
Will  Baptist  Church." 

.Among  the  earliest  itinerants  who  visited  Cumberland  was  the 
Rev.  Joshua  Hall,  under  whose  earnest  labors  the  first  revival  of  re- 
ligion occurred,  and  the  Revs.  Thomas  Norris,  who  joined  the  Confer- 
ence in  1811,  and  Van  Rensselaer  Osborn,  who  found  his  wife  in  Cum- 
berland, in  the  person  of  Alpha  Bishop. 

About  1825  Rev.  Joshua  Soule  visited  the  community  and  held 
meetings  at  Deacon  Bishop's. 

The  first  house  of  worship  occupied  by  the  Methodists  was  the 
Catholic  Baptist  meeting-house,  situated  on  the  road  from  Arnold's 
Mills  to  Pawtucket,  on  the  site  now  covered  by  the  house  of  Mr. 
Eugene  Crowninshield.  Services  were  held  in  this  place  during  the 
summer  months  only.  In  the  winter  meetings  were  held  in  the  school- 
house  at  Arnold's  Mills,  the  church  not  being  provided  with  stoves. 
This  arrangement  continued  until  the  erection  of  the  present  edifice, 
which  was  dedicated  February  17,  1827.  The  church  was  built  under 
the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Lambord,  who  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon.  The  church  edifice  was  not  the  property  of  the 
church.  The  Methodists  were  to  have  the  preference  in  its  occupancy; 


6  SOL'l'KXIR  HISTORY. 

but  when  they  did  not  use  it,  any  other  religious  denomination  might 
do  so. 

Among  those  actively  interested  in  promoting  the  new  church  en- 
terprise may  be  mentioned  the  Walcotts,  William,  Rufus,  Milton  and 
John;  Lewis  and  Enoch  Ar- 
nold, William  Sweetland, 
Harrison  Holmes,  Columbia 
Tingley,  Joel  Hawkins,  Wil- 
lard  Haskell,  Alexander 
Thompson,  John  and  Na- 
thaniel Newell. 

April  10,  1830,  Israel 
Washburn  and  James  Por- 
ter received  licenses  as  local 
preachers  and  were  recom- 
mended t6  the  Annual  Con- 
ference for  ordination. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  George  Stone  (1835-36)  an  unfortu- 
nate schism  occurred,  caused  by  several  members  withdrawing  be- 
cause they  disapproved  the  Methodist  Episcopal  polity. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  W.  Houghton  the  church  edifice 


ARNOLD'S   MILLS  PARSONAGE. 


REV.  J.  G.  GAMMONS. 


MRS.  J.   G.  GAMMONS. 


was  extensively  repaired,  and  February  18,  1847,  ^  was  re-dedicated, 
Frederick  Upham,  D.  D.,  preaching  the  sermon  from  Isaiah  ii,  3. 

In  1853  Rev.  E.  S.  Stanley  was  appointed  to  this,  his  first  charge. 
During  his  second  year  he  directed  and  "worked  with  his  own  hands," 
in  the  erection  of  the  parsonage. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


LOUIS  W.   BISHOP. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


In  1860  Joel  E.  Hawkins  (now  a  member  of  this  Conference)  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1862  was  recommended  for  admission  to  the 
Annual  Conference. 

The  Rev.  F.  C.  Newell's  pastorate  (1870-72)  was  marked  by  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  progress.  Exten- 
sive improvements  were  made  in  the 
church  edifice  and  parsonage. 

Fifteen  conversions  were  report- 
ed the  first  year,  and  several  in  each 
of  the  following  two  years.  Mr. 
Newell  married  his  second  wife, 
Louise  B.  Hawkins,  here. 

The  next  pastor,  Benjamin  A. 
Chase,  was  instrumental  in  securing 
a  new  bell  for  the  church,  and  the 
first  time  it  was  rung  for  a  public  ser- 
vice it  was  tolled  for  the  pastor's 
funeral.  Mr.  Chase  died  August  17, 
1874,  aged  41  years,  of  consumption, 
leaving  a  widow  and  three  young 
children.  In  1880  the  name  of  the 
charge  was  changed  from  East  Cumberland  to  Diamond  Hill. 

In  1883,  the  pastor,  B.  F.  Simon,  opened  preaching  services  at 
Ashton,  on  alternate  Sunday  afternoons. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Heath,  the  next  pastor,  also  supplied  at  Ashton,  and 
during  his  pastorate  (1884-86)  the  name  of  this  charge  was  changed 
from  Diamond  Hill  to  Arnold's  Mills. 

Under  the  administration  of  Rev.  L.  G.  Horton  (1887-89)  the 
church  edifice  was  thoroughly  repaired  at  a  cost  of  v$  1,850,  which  was 
all  raised  during  this  very  successful  pastorate.  The  church  was  re- 
dedicated  January  22,  1888,  with  a  sermon  by  Rev.  D.  H.  Ela,  D.  D. 
Text,  Matt,  xvi,  18. 

June  30,  1888,  the  present  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor  was  organized. 

Rev.  Richard  Burn  was  the  first  pastor  to  serve  this  church  the 
full  term  of  five  years  (1891-1895). 

During  the  present  pastorate  another  mission  has  been  started  in 
the  village  of  Sheldonville,  and  a  class  of  seventeen  was  organized  July 
27,  1896. 

During  the  past  year  (1897),  under  the  leadership  of  J.  G.  Gam- 
mons, the  church  has  been  painted  on  the  outside  and  frescoed  in  oils 
on  the  inside,  and  the  parsonage  painted  on  the  inside  and  re-carpeted, 
at  an  expense  of  $600,  all  of  which  has  been  paid. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1827. 
1828. 
1829-30. 

1831. 
1832. 

I833-34. 

1835-36. 

1837-38. 

1839-40. 

1841. 

1842. 

1843. 

1844. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 

1849- 
1850. 

1851-52- 
1853-54. 
1855-56. 


PASTORS. 

Daniel  Fletcher  1857-58. 

Robert  Gould  1859. 

Benjamin    Paine  1860-61. 

David   Culver  1862-63. 

Joseph  Ireson  1864-66. 

Peter  Sabin  1867. 

George  Stone  1868-69. 

David  L.  Winslow  1870-72. 

J.  Bailey  1 873-74. 

Joseph  McReading  J875- 

Franklin  Fisk  1876-78. 

Otis  Wilder  1879-80. 

Nathaniel  Bemis  1881-82. 

H.  W.  Houghton  1883. 

Charles  Noble  1884-86. 

J.  B.  Weeks  1887-89. 

Lawton  Cady  1890. 

Charles  Hammond  1891-95. 

E.  S.  Stanley  1896. 

A.  Worthing  1897. 


Abel   Gardner 

E.  F.  Hincks 
R.    Donkersly 
William  Kellen 
T.   B.   Gurney 
Noble   Fisk 

A.  A.   Presbrey 

F.  C.  Newell 

B.  A.  Chase 
Anthony  Palmer 
Philo    Hawkes 
J.  F.  Sheffield 
V.  W.  Matioon 
B.  F.  Simon 

W.  B.  Heath 
L.  G.  Horton 
D.  L.  Brown 
R.  Burn 
N.  B.  Cook 
J.  G.  Gammons 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Stewards— W.  H.  Millard  (Recording),  D.  O.  Cargill  (District), 
C.  O.  Flagg,  W.  H.  Flagg,  A.  B.  Gould,  B.  F.  Taylor,  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Taylor,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Cargill,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Newell,  Miss  A.  M.  Cargill, 
Miss  E.  N.  Arnold,  Miss  Mary  E.  Follett,  Miss  Mary  A.  Razee. 

Trustees— William  H.  Millard,  David  O.  Cargill,  Charles  O. 
Flagg,  Walter  H.  Flagg,  Andrew  B.  Gould,  Brainerd  F.  Taylor, 
Jason  Newell,  Neil  D.  Mackenzie,  George  E.  Bowen. 

Class  Leaders — David  Alexander,  Alfred  Nash. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Louis  W.  Bishop;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Mary  E.  Richards;  Librarian,  Clarence  Flagg. 

Teachers — David  O.  Cargill,  Louis  W.  Bishop,  Nellie  C.  Metcalf, 
Mary  L.  Newell,  Mary  E.  Richards. 

Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor — President,  G.  Dal- 
las Jencks;  Vice-President,  Nellie  C.  Metcalf;  Corresponding  Secre- 
tray,  Mary  L.  Newell;  Recording  Secretary,  Mary  E.  Skeels;  Treas- 
urer, Raymond  C.  Sutton. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ATTLEBORO,  MASS. 

Methodist  itinerants  preached  the  gospel  in  this  town  for  several 
years  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  present  church. 

In  1838,  in  what  is  now  North  Attleboro,  a  Methodist  Church  was 

established    and    promised    to    be- 
come a  strong  church. 

But  in  1842  "Milleritism"  in- 
vaded, divided  and  finally  extin- 
guished it. 

The  names  of  Fletcher,  Cady, 
Brewster  and  Mathews  are  found 
among  its  pastors. 

In  1858  Methodist  meetings  were 
held  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Attleboro,  then  called  East  Attle- 
boro. 

Mr.  Dean,  a  local  preacher,  la- 
bored here  and  a  number  of  con- 
versions occurred. 

Another  local  preacher  by  the 
name  of  Baker  also  labored  here. 
But  the  results  were  not  perma- 
nent in  either  case.  A  company 
of  Christians,  one  day  in  the  Fall 
•of  1865,  were  passing  through  the  village  to  attend  a  Sunday  school 
convention,  and  some  of  them  remarked  that  this  was  a  good  place 
for  missionary  work. 

On  November  24,  1865,  D.  H.  Ela,  then  pastor  of  our  church 
in  Pawtucket,  and  the  Hon.  John  Davis,  a  prominent  layman  of  the 
same  church — since  Governor  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island — and  now 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Pawtucket,  established  a  meeting  here.  A  hall 
was  hired  and  November  26,  1865,  D.  H.  Ela  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon. In  the  afternoon  a  sermon  was  preached  by  I.  J.  Lansing. 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  December  3,  a  Sabbath  School,  num- 
bering 46  persons,  of  all  ages,  was  organized. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  every  Sabbath  till  the  next  Conference 
by  Rev.  I.  J.  Lansing. 

The  church  was  organized  with  12  members  in  March,  1866. 
At  the  Conference  held  in  Bristol,  March,  1866,  Attleboro  applied 
for  a  minister  and  Alexander  Anderson  became  by  appointment  their 
regular  pastor. 

The  Lord  poured  out  His  spirit  upon  the  people  and  souls  were 


THE  ATTLEBORO  CHURCH. 


10 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


converted  at  nearly  all  the  services.  In  the  early  Autumn  of  1866  the 
ground  was  broken  for  a  new  church,  and  on  the  26th  of  November 
the  corner  stone  was  laid. 

The  vestry  was  occupied  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  June,  1867,  and 
on  February  23,  1869,  the  church  was  dedicated,  Mark  Trafton, 
D.  D.,  preaching  the  sermon. 

The  church  waxed  strong,  numerically  and  spiritually,  during  the 
three  years  of  Mr.  Anderson's  pastorate,  and  continued  to  prosper 
through  succeeding  pastorates. 

Following  Mr.  Anderson  came  that  astute  theologian,  H.  D.  Rob- 
inson, whose  thorough  expo- 
sition of  the  Gospel  strength- 
ened the  faith  of  the  people  in 
the  Word,  and  who,  with  his 
clear  knowledge  of  Methodist 
laws,  did  much  toward 
strengthening  the  church  in 
Methodism. 

Then  came  the  mild, 
gentle-spirited  W.  H.  Starr, 
who  strengthened  the  work 
already  done.  THE  ATTLEBORO  PARSONAGE. 

He  was  followed  by  that  Boanerges  of  New  England  Southern 
Methodism,  E.  D.  Hall,  whose  work  was  very  successful  and  his  name 
lingers  in  precious  memory  still  with  the  people. 


REV.    G.    W.    HUNT. 


MRS.    G.    W.  HUNT. 


J.  C.  Gowan,  that  most  thorough,  indefatigable  worker,  came 
next,  and  the  results  of  his  work  still  remain  in  a  number  of  staunch 
supporters  of  the  Church. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY- 


II 


The  tall,  straight,  manly  A.  W.  Seavey  was  much  beloved  in  the 
succeeding  pastorate  and  when  he  left  us,  early,  for  his  heavenly  home, 
many  hearts  in  this  charge  were  bereaved. 

George  W.  Ballou,  a  sweet  singer  and  good  preacher,  followed, 
and  left  for  a  Western  Conference  by  transfer  during  his  second  year. 

Then  came  that  man  of  God,  J.  W.  Willett,  who  has  recently  gone 
to  his  eternal  reward.  His  integrity  of  character,  devotion  to  the 
right,  fearless  denunciations  of  the  wrong  and  wrongdoers,  made  him 
both  feared  and  loved. 

During  all  these  pastorates  the  Church  grew  in  numbers  and  ex- 


F.   B.    WILMARTH. 
Epworth   League   President. 


F.  W.   LINCOLN. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


tended  its  influence  for  good  in  the  community.  It  was  hindered 
somewhat  in  its  work  by  a  debt  on  the  church  property  of  $5,000. 

J.  A.  L.  Rich  followed  Mr.  Willett  and  immediately  saw  the  need 
of  removing  this  incumbrance.  He  decided  to  make  an. effort  to  clear 
it  off.  And  after  earnest  and  prayerful  work  he  succeeded. 

A  Jubilee  reunion  in  recognition  of  the  payment  of  the  Church 
debt  was  held  November  20  and  21,  1883.  Many  former  pastors  were 
present  and  the  people  rejoiced. 

In  about  a  month  after  the  Church  had  been  freed  from  debt,  on 
the  morning  of  December  23,  1883,  it  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  people  rallied  undismayed  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Rich 
and  immediately  appointed  a  committee  to  rebuild  on  the  same  site. 
The  new  building  was  completed  in  March,  1885,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$25,000.  A  debt  of  $5,000  remained  on  the  property,  which  is  being 
gradually  reduced. 

Bishop  C.  D.  Foss  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon. 


12 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Mr.  Rich  was  succeeded  by  Warren  A.  Luce,  whose  strong  pulpit 
work  is  still  referred  to  frequently  by  the  people. 

Then  came  Walter  Ela,  who  was  removed  at  the  close  of  his  sec- 
ond year  and  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  the  New  Bedford  District. 

He  was  followed  by  Archibald  McCord,  who  resigned  his  pastor- 
ate to  enter  the  Congregational  ministry.  Then  came  that  plain,  con- 
secrated man  of  God,  Richard  Povey,  whose  words  of  truth  still  bring 
forth  fruit  in  the  lives  of  many  who  yet  remain  in  the  Church. 

He  was  followed  by  the  genial,  cheerful  George  E.  Brightman, 
and  then  came  the  present  incumbent,  George  W.  Hunt. 

During  Mr.  Brightman's  pastorate  Union  revival  services  were 
held  with  the  Congregational  and  Baptist  Churches,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Evangelist  Gillam. 

The  communitv  was  thoroughly  aroused  and  scores  of  souls  were 


D.  E.    ADAMS. 
President    Board    Trustees. 


C.   SIDNEY  SMITH. 
Past   S.   S.   Supt. 


saved.  About  sixty  united  with  the  Methodist  Church  on  probation, 
nearly  all  of  whom  remained  on  probation  when  the  present  pastorate 
was  assumed,  and  all  but  four  were  received  into  full  membership. 

During  Mr.  Povey 's  residence  the  present  parsonage,  one  of  the 
best  in  the  Conference,  was  built. 

The  financial  responsibility  was  assumed  by  the  "Home  Mission 
Society,"  a  society  of  the  women  in  the  Church.  They  have  kept  it 
well  furnished  and  hope  to  pay  the  last  dollar  of  the  expense  incurred 
in  building  in  a  few  months.  The  officers  at  present  are: 

President,  Mrs.  Warren  Parker;  Secretary,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Macom- 
ber;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  H.  A.  Wexell. 

The  present  pastorate  will  be  marked  as  having  had  the  honor  of 
entertaining  the  Annual  Conference  in  the  Spring  of  1898. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1866-68. 
1869-70. 
1871-72. 

I873-74- 
1875-76. 

1877-78. 
1879. 
1 880-8 1. 


A.  Anderson 
H.  D.  Robinson 
W.  H.  Starr 
E.  D.  Hall 
J.  C.  Gowan 
J.  W.  Willett 
A.  W.  Seavey 
G.  W.  Ballon 


1882-84.  T.  A.  L.  Rich 

1885-86.  W.  A.  Luce 

1887-88.  Walter  Ela 

1880.  A.  McCord 

1890-92.  R.  Povey 

1893-95.  G.  E.  Brightman 

1806.  G.  W.  Hunt 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Local  Elder— Rev.  A.  C.  Eddy. 

Trustees — D.  E.  Adams,  President;  A.  M.  Everett,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer;  Freeman  Robbins,  J.  W.  Luther,  G.  L.  Whitman,  J.  W. 
Gifford,  F.  W.  Lincoln,  C.  W.  Chase. 

Stewards— W.  H.  McCoombs  (R.  S.),  J.  M.  Fisher,  F.  M.  Ellis, 
W.  C.  Dix,  Warren  Parker,  George  L.  Taylor,  A.  C.  Luther,  E.  Blake, 
W.  J.  Grant,  G.  E.  Collins,  W.  E.  Springer,  Albert  Harris,  W.  A. 
Campbell. 

Class  Leaders — Freeman  Robbins,  W.  H.  McCoombs,  C.  Sidney 
Smith. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  F.  W.  Lincoln;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, J.  W.  Ford;  Secretary,  George  L.  Hunt;  Superintend- 
ent Primary  Department,  Miss  Ida  Wilkinson;  Assistant,  Misa  Belle 
Anthony;  Superintendent  Home  Department,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Luther. 

Epworth  League — President,  F.  B.  Wilmarth;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  C.  W.  Chase;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Ida  Wilkinson;  Third 
Vice-President,  Miss  C.  Edna  Smith;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Florence  Everett;  Secretary,  Miss  Alice  Fisher;  Treasurer,  Albert 
Harris. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Miss  Lillian  Small. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BERKELEY,  R.  I. 

In  the  fall  of  1882,  October  20,  three  young  men,  Archie  Rankin. 
Hartley  A.  Ridgeway  and  David  F.  Tomblinson,  hired  Foresters'  Hall 
for  one  Sabbath  afternoon's  preaching  service. 

The  large  audience  which  attended  encouraged  them  to  repeat 
the  enterprise  next  Sabbath.  The  preacher  was  Rev.  C.  A.  Maryott. 
There  was  no  intention  on  the  part  of  these  brethren  to  establish  a 
permanent  organization.  Their  purpose  is  thus  stated  by  Hartley  A. 
Ridgeway:  "To  see  more  Christian  work  and  sentiment  in  the  com- 
munity." These  Sabbath  afternoon  services  were  continued. 

January  4,  1883,  a  Christian  Association  was  formed  with  28 
members.  The  usual  constitution  of  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  adopted,  with 


\ 


THE   BERKELEY   CHURCH. 

two  classes  of  members,  active  and  associate.  Women  were  admitted 
to  membership. 

The  first  officers  were:  President,  Archie  Rankin;  Vice-President, 
James  S.  Wild;  Secretary,  Hartley  A.  Ridgeway;  Treasurer,  Eli  Mills. 

In  July,  1883,  B.  F.  Simon,  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Ar- 
nold's Mills,  was  engaged  to  preach  every  other  Sabbath.  On  alter- 
nate Sabbaths  preachers  of  different  denominations  occupied  the 
pulpit. 

On  October  14,  1883,  a  series  of  revival  services  was  begun, 
conducted  by  Mr.  Thomas  G.  Crocker.  These  meetings  continued 
three  weeks.  As  a  result  eighteen  new  members  were  added  to  the 
Association. 

In  April,  1884,  Rev.  W.  B.  Heath,  who  succeeded  Rev.  B.  F. 
Simon  at  Arnold's  Mills,  also  succeeded  him  as  preacher  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. June  u,  1884,  he  reported  to  his  Quarterly  Conference:  "I 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


have  been  invited  to  preach  at  Ashton  Village  every  other  Sabbath 
at  3.30  o'clock,  to  a  union  association  of  Christians,  composed  prin- 
cipally of  young  people."  July  4,  1885,  a  department  for  children  was 
added.  Miss  Nannie  Hedges  and  Mrs.  Charlotte  Mills  were  placed 
in  charge. 

On  March  13,  1887,  this  Association  and  the  M.  E.  Church  at 
Arnold's  Mills  were  united  as  one  pastoral  charge,  and  in  April,  1887, 
Rev.  Lyman  G.  Horton  was  appointed  by  the  Conference  to  Arnold's 
Mills  and  Ashton.  On  the  seventh  day  of  September,  at  a  meeting 
called  for  that  purpose,  two  questions  were  raised,  namely:  Shall  we 
as  an  Association  join  a  church?  And  if  so,  what  denomination  shall 
it  be?  Twenty-seven  persons  were  present  and  twenty-seven  votes 
were  cast  for  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  Association  had 
in  all  four  presidents,  Archie  Rankin,  James  S.  Wild,  Hartley  A. 


REV.   E.   G.  BABCOCK. 


MRS.   E.   G.   BABCOCK. 


Ridgeway  and  Eli  Mills.  Its  largest  number  of  members  at  any  one 
time  was  seventy. 

The  transformation  of  the  Association  into  an  M.  E.  Church  pro- 
ceeded as  follows:  On  September  n,  thirty-two  persons  joined  the 
class.  Eli  Mills  was  chosen  class  leader.  On  November  22,  the  Pre- 
siding Elder,  Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan,  visited  this  charge  and  organized  the 
class  into  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  baptized  one  candi- 
date and  received  twenty-nine  persons  into  full  connection. 

The  Quarterly  Conference  was  organized,  consisting  of  a  Board 
of  Trustees:  Eli  Mills,  John  T.  Knott,  William  Crandall,  William  Grif- 
fith, James  S.  Wild,  Thomas  Simpson,  Edward  Greaves,  John  Barnes 
and  Joseph  Hollingsworth;  and  a  Board  of  Stewards:  Eli  Mills,  John 


i6 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


T.  Knott,  William  Cranclall,  James  S.  Wild,  Thomas  Simpson, 
William  Griffith,  Charlotte  Mills,  Emma  Hesford,  Martha  Halliday, 
Maria  Waring,  Mary  E.  Clegg,  Sarah  Bethel  and  S.  L.  Mitchell.  Eli 
Mills  was  chosen  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School. 

December  4,  1887,  it  was  voted  to  name  the  church  the  Emanuel 
M.  E.  Church  of  Berkeley,  R.  I.  A  charter  was  granted  at  the  Jan- 
uary session  of  the  Legislature,  1888. 

The  lot  on  which  the  church  stands  was  purchased  of  the  Berke- 
ley Mill  Company  for  $640;  $340  was  raised  by  subscription  and  the 
remaining  $300  was  loaned  by  Eli  Mills  and  John  Barnes.  On  Sun- 
day, March  17,  1889,  $660  was  pledged,  through  the  agency  of  the 
pastor,  Lynian  G.  Horton,  for  the  support  of  a  pastor  for  next  Con- 


L.  SCRANTON. 
Epworth   League   President. 


GEO.    HESFORD. 
Ex-Epworth  League   Pres. 


ference  year.  Great  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  Horton,  under  whose 
administration  the  Ashton  Christian  Association  was  transformed  into 
the  Berkeley  M.  E.  Church. 

Charles  Smith  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge  of  the  Berkeley 
Church  at  the  Conference  held  in  April,  1889.  Subscriptions  were  at 
•once  commenced  for  the  building  of  a  church.  Then  a  strike  occurred 
in  the  Berkeley  mill,  that  decreased  the  membership  and  strength  of 
the  society  nearly  one-half.  Notwithstanding  such  discouragements, 
the  building  enterprise  was  pushed  forward,  and  on  November  23d  of 
that  year  the  corner  stone  of  the  church  was  laid  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  congregation.  The  church  was  dedicated  April  13,  1890,. 
Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan  preaching  the  sermon.  This  church  cost  about 
$4,000.  A  debt  of  $1,725  was  incurred.  The  superintendent  of  the 
Berkeley  Mill  Company,  Mr.  W.  H.  Magee,  took  a  very  active  in- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


terest  in  the  building  enterprise.     He  provided  the  larger  part  of  the 

pulpit  furniture,  the  chandelier,  the  carpet  and  the  bell.     He  also  had 

the  grounds  graded. 

After  serving  a  pastorate  of  three  years,  Mr.  Smith  was  succeeded 

by  Alexander  Anderson.  During 
this  pastorate  the  debt  on  the  church 
lot  was  paid  and  several  accessions 
were  made  to  the  church. 

In  the  spring  of  1895  Mr.  Ander- 
son was  succeeded  by  Robert  Clark, 
during  whose  service  of  one  year 
$400  was  paid  on  the  church  debt,  the 
Ep worth  League  raising  $100  of  this 
amount.  Mr.  Clark  was  followed  by 
W.  F.  Geisler,  a  student  of  Brown 
University,  who  rendered  faithful  ser- 
vice for  one  year  and  was  succeeded 
by  E.  G.  Babcock,  the  present  pas- 
tor. 

Eli  Mills,  having  served  the  church 
as  Sunday  School  Superintendent  for 

seven  years  out  of  the  nine  since  its  organization,  declined  re-election 

in  January,  1897.    The  pastor  has  filled  the  office  since. 

Three  auxiliary  societies  have  been  of  great  service  to  the  church, 

namely:  The  Helping  Hand,  the  Young  Men's  Guild  and  the  Ep- 

worth  League. 

PASTORS 


THOMAS   SIMPSON. 


1889-91.     Charles  Smith  1896. 

1892-94.     Alexander  Anderson        1897. 
1895.          Robert  Clark 


W.  F.  Geisler 
E.  G.  Babcock 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — John  Barnes,  Eli  Mills,  Thomas  Simpson,  Thomas 
Johnson,  John  O.  Bellows,  Edward  Greaves,  David  Alexander,  An- 
drew B.  Gould. 

Stewards — Miss  Ada  B.  Hedges  (R.  S.),  George  Hesford,  Thomas 
Simpson  (D.  S.),  Aleanah  Hesford,  Miss  Annie  Bellows,  Miss  Carrie 
M.  Bellows,  Miss  Mary  E.  Clegg,  Miss  Minnie  Hedges,  Mrs.  Bessie  S. 
Rogers. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  the  Pastor;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Miss  Carrie  Bellows;  Secretary,  George  Hesford;  Assistant 
Secretary,  A.  Hesford;  Treasurer,  Miss  I.  Hedges;  Librarian,  William 


i8 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Davis;  Assistant  Librarian,  Fred  Tomlinson;  Organist,  Miss  E. 
Usher. 

Teachers — Miss  E.  Kirkpatrick,  Miss  E.  Usher,  Mrs.  A.  Usher, 
Miss  A.  Moorhouse,  Miss  M.  Hedges,  Miss  I.  Hedges,  Miss  A. 
Bellows,  Miss  C.  Bellows,  Mrs.  E.  Mills,  Mrs.  J.  Turner,  Miss  E. 
Edmundson,  Mr.  J.  Edmundson,  J.  Wild. 

Epzvorth  League — President,  George  Hesford;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Aleanah  Hesford,  Second  Vice-President,  Mary  E.  Clegg; 
Third  Vice-President,  Agnes  Gibson;  Secretary,  Lofton  Scranton; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  Lofton  Scranton. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Miss  Minnie  Moorhouse;  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  Miss  Edith  A.  L'sher. 

Church  Organist — Mr.  A.  Wild. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  BRISTOL,  R.  I. 

The  first   class  was   formed  in   the   spring  of   1791.     Jesse   Lee 
visited  Bristol  in  1790,  and  preached  at  that  time  in  the  State  House, 


THE  BRIS  TOL  CHURCH 


July  2d.     There  was  preaching  every  two  weeks  during  the  winter. 
Rev.  Lemuel  Smith  was  the  first  regularly  stationed  Methodist  minis- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


ter.  The  circviit  of  which  Bristol  was  a  part  that  year  embraced  East 
Greenwich,  Providence,  Warren,  Somerset,  Taunton  and  Easton. 
Bishop  Coke  visited  Bristol  in  1804,  in  June,  and  preached  in  the  State 
House. 

Rev.  Ezekiel  Cooper  had  charge  of  the  Boston  district  in  1793  and 


House     Where     Rev.    Jesse     Lee     Preached 
the  First  Methodist  Sermon  in  1791. 

1794.  Rhode  Island  was  a  part  of  that  district.  Among  the  places  he 
visited  was  Bristol,  where,  on  Sunday,  December  i,  1793,  the  or- 
dinances of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  were  for  the  first  time 


REV.    A.    \V.    KIXGSLUY. 


1  JESS  IK   L.   CARY. 
Junior   League   President. 


administered  by  the  Methodists.  In  1791  a  sea  captain  was  converted 
in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  a  citizen  of  Bristol,  and  on  his  re- 
turn to  his  home,  began  to  tell  the  story  of  his  conversion.  In  about 
a  year  a  little  society  was  formed,  consisting  of  eighteen  members. 


20 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


This  number  increased  from  year  to  year,  till  in  1805  they  were 
able  to  build  a  neat  and  commodious  chapel.  In  1812,  a  powerful 
revival  occurred,  when  about  100  were  converted.  In  1820  another 
quickening-  came  to  the  infant  church,  and  nearly  150  more  are  be- 


FRANK    G.    THURSTOX.  GEO.   H.    PECK. 

Epworth  League   President.  Sunday   School  Superintendent. 

lieved  to  have  been  saved.  At  intervals  of  several  years  marked  re- 
vivals took  place,  and  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  church  have 
been  constant  and  encouraging.  From  a  letter  still  in  existence,  we 
learn  that  "Love  Feasts''  were  held  in  Bristol  in  1787,  and  Bristol  has 
the  honor  of  being  the  place  of  the  second  earliest  church  in  New 
England,  Lynn,  Mass.,  being  the  first. 

The  first  class  of  sixteen  persons  was  formed  in  the  spring  of  1791. 
The  following  are  their  names: 

John  Gladding  and  Rachel  his  wife,  Sylvester  AIun.ro  and  Sarah 
his  wife,  William  Pearse  and  Mary  his  wife,  William  P.  Waldron  and 
Jemima  his  wife,  Benjamin  Doty,  James  Harding,  Nancy  Liscomb 
Deborah  Lindsay,  William  Harding  and  three  persons  whose  names 
are  lost. 

The  present  State  Street  Church  edifice  was  dedicated  in  Sep- 
tember, 1856,  and  many  revivals  have  occurred  since  that  time,  the 
most  notable  being  in  1867,  during1  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  T.  S. 
Thomas. 

PASTORS. 


1790. 
1792. 

I794- 
1798. 


Jesse  Lee  1803. 

Lemuel  Smith  1807. 

Jesse  Lee  1808. 

Daniel  Webb  1809. 

Jordan  Rexford  1810. 


A.  McLean 
Joseph  Snelling 
Jordan   Rexford 
Samuel  Merwin 
Nehemiah  Coy 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


21 


1846-47.  Jonathan  Cady 

1848-49.  R.  Livesey 

1850.  I1'.  Upham 

1851-52.  E.  Grant 

1853.  Geo.  W.  Stearns 

1854-55.  H.   H.   Smith 

1 856-57.  A.  McKeown 

1858.  William  Livesey 

1859.  Henry  Bayliss 
1 860-6 1.  David  H.   Ela 
1862-6-3.  Samuel  F.  Upham 
1864.   '  M.  J.  Talbot 
1865-67.  T.  Snowden  Thomas 
1868-69.  Daniel  A.  Whedon 
1870.  Geo.  L.  Westgate 
1871-72.  Edgar  M.  Smith 
1873-74.  W.  T.  Harlow 
:875-77-  Ed.  Edson 

1878-80.  William  V.  Morrison 

1881-82.  Edwin  F.  Jones 

1883-85.  Edwin  D.  Hall 

1886.  Albert  P.  Palmer 

1887-88.  S.  H.  Day 

1889-91.  W.  F.  Davis 

1892-94.  W.  J.  Smith 

1895.  Augustus   W.    Kingsley 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Ezra  Dixon,  R.  B.  Franklin,  William  H.  Maxfield, 
James  T.  Freeborn,  George  H.  Peck,  Robert  Gregg,  Thomas  Pearse, 
F.  T.  Remieres. 

Class  Leaders — A.  T.  Marchant,  E.  Dixon. 

Stewards — R.  B.  Franklin,  Ambrose  Waldron,  F.  T.  Remieres, 
F.  G.  Blaisdell  (D.  S.),  Edward  Talbee,  Ezra  Dixon,  George  H.  Peck 
(R.  S.),  Hugh  Moffitt,  John  B.  Gravlin,  Walter  Blaisdell,  Clinton  T. 
Sherman,  Frank  G.  Thurston,  Daniel  Cruickshank. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  H.  Peck;  First  Assistant, 
Frank  G.  Thurston;  Second  Assistant,  Richard  B.  Franklin;  Secretary, 
Herbert  H.  Congdon;  Assistant,  Allie  Peck;  Treasurer,  Richard  B. 
Franklin;  Superintendent  Infant  Department,  Miss  Mattie  B.  Paull; 
Librarian,  Seth  Paull,  Jr.;  First  Assistant,  Oliver  H.  Blaisdell;  Second 
Assistant,  Joseph  B.  Congdon;  Secretary  Visiting  Department,  Miss 
Sadie  Paull;  Organist,  Mrs.  Minnie  B.  Pollock. 

Teachers— Miss  Myra  F.  Blaisdell,  Miss  Vesta  Blaisdell,  Miss 
Roxanna  Paull,  Miss  Annie  R.  Thompson,  Miss  Elizabeth  G.  Moffitt, 
Miss  Hattie  L.  Peckham,  Miss  Lillie  Luther,  Frank  G.  Thurston, 


1812-13. 

Asa  Kent 

1814. 

Edward   Hyde 

1815. 

B.  K.  Hoyt 

1816. 

John  Lindsay 

1817. 

B.    Sabin 

1818-19. 

T.  W.  Tucker 

1820-21. 

Isaac  Bonney 

1822. 

J.  W.  Hardy 

1823-24. 

T.    Merritt 

1825. 

P.  Peck 

1826. 

Ed.  T.  Taylor 

1827. 

Chas.  Virgin 

1828. 

Leonard  Griffin 

1829. 

Isaac  Bonney 

1830. 

Ira  M.  Bidwell 

1831. 

Lewis   Bates 

1832. 

Ephraim   K.   Avery 

1833- 

Chas.  K.  True 

E.  K.  Avery 

1834-35- 

J.  Haskell 

1836. 

John  Lovejoy 

1837-38. 

O.  C.  Bontecou 

1839-40. 

E.  Scott 

1841. 

C.  Noble 

1842. 

V.  R.  Osborn 

1843- 

H.  Vincent 

1844-45. 

Isaac  Bonney 

22  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Ambrose  Waldron,  Walter  L.  Blaisdell,  Richard  B.  Franklin,  A.  F. 
Marchant,  Mrs.  Clara  H.  Whittemofe,  Mrs.  Thomas  Pearse,  Mrs. 
Betsey  Wilcox,  Mrs.  Susie  Wardwell,  Mrs.  Nancy  B.  Manchester, 
Mrs.  Nancy  R.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cruickshank. 

Epworth  League — President,  Frank  G.  Thurston ;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cruickshank;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Emma  E.  Cary;  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Grace  Paull;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Samuel  Church;  Secretary,  Miss  Lillie  Luther;  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Sadie  Paull. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Miss  Mattie  B.  Paull;  President, 
Miss  Bessie  L.  Cary;  First  Vice-President,  Miss  Inzie  S.  Pitts;  Second 
Vice-President,  Miss  Eva  May  Elder;  Third  Vice-President,  Maud  G. 
Clark;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss  May  D.  Congdon;  Secretary,  Miss 
Leah  B.  Young;  Treasurer,  Miss  Abbie  M.  Coggeshall. 


BROCKTON   METHODIST  SOCIAL  UNION. 
By  William  E.  Beals. 

For  a  long  time  the  Methodists  of  Brockton  and  vicinity  had  felt 
that  there  should  be  some  general  organization  in  which  they  might 
all  meet  and  come  into  a  closer  and  more  harmonious  contact  with  each 
other.  Accordingly,  September  9,  1889,  the  Central  M.  E.  Church 
through  and  at  the  instigation  of  its  pastor,  Rev.  Frank  P.  Parkin,  a 
large  number  of  delegates  met  at  the  ladies'  parlors  of  the  Central 
M.  E.  Church,  representing  the  following  churches:  Central,  South 
Street,  Franklin  and  Pearl  Street  churches  of  Brockton,  Cochesett, 
North  Easton,  Stoughton,  South  Braintree,  East  Braintree,  Whitman 
and  East  Bridgewater.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Rev.  Frank 
P.  Parkin,  wrho  in  a  few  words  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting.  Charles 


W.    E.    BEALS,    Lecturer. 


\V.    J.    LOHEED. 


Eaton  was  elected  chairman  and  William  E.  Beals  secretary  of  the 
meeting.  After  several  short  speeches,  it  was  voted  to  organize  a 
social  union.  Rev.  Frank  P.  Parkin  submitted  a  draft  of  a  constitu- 
tion, which,  with  a  few  amendments,  was  adopted.  Membership  at 
first  was  $5  a  year,  afterwards  $i. 

-  The  meetings  have  been  profitable  socially,  intellectually  and 
spiritually.  A  growing  spirit  of  harmony  and  good  will  has  encour- 
aged the  churches.  The  usual  order  of  exercises  has  been  a  social  hour 
from  6  to  7  P.  M.,  a  supper  from  7  to  8,  speakers,  music,  etc.,  at  8  P.  M. 

Among  the  many  interesting  and  profitable  evenings  with  speakers 
the  following  may  be  mentioned: 

May,  8,  1893,  the  late  Rev.  William  N.  Brodbeck,  D.  D.,  of  Bos- 
ton, gave  his  popular  address,  "Why  I  Am  a  Methodist." 


24  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

October  9,  1893,  Rev.  Matt  S.  Hughes  of  Portland,  Me.  Sub- 
ject, "Religious  Novelties." 

March  3,  1894,  Rev.  W.  W.  Ramsay,  D.  D.,  of  Boston.  Subject, 
"Methodism  as  a  Social  Force." 

May  15,  1894,  Rev.  C.  M.  Melden,  Ph.  D.,  of  Brockton.  Sub- 
ject, "The  Age  and  Its  Demands  upon  the  Church." 

October  29,  1894,  Rev.  George  A.  Crawford,  Ph,  D.,  of  Woburn, 
Subject,  "Japan  and  Her  Neighbors." 

March  18,  1895,  Rev.  John  A.  Galbraith  of  Boston.  Subject,  "The 
Future  of  New  England  Methodism  as  Indicated  by  Its  Past  and 
Present." 

May  27,  1895,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  D.  D.  Subject,  "The  New 
Era." 

October,  1895,  Rev.  John  D.  Pickles,  Ph.  D.,  of  Boston.  Sub- 
ject, "Rambles  in  the  Land  of  the  Pharaohs." 

December  9,  1895,  Rev.  Edwin  H.  Hughes  of  Newton  Centre. 
Subject,  "The  Portrait  of  Jesus." 

February  17,  1896,  Rev.  C.  B.  Pitblado,  D.  D.,  of  New  York  Sub- 
ject, "Peculiarities  of  Methodism.'' 

May  n,  1896,  Rev.  O.  W.  Scott  of  Brockton.  Subject,  "The 
Epworth  League  in  Its  Relation  to  the  Church,  and  Its  Promise  for  the 
Future." 

November  16,  1896,  Rev.  George  K.  Morris,  D.  D.,  of  Boston 
University.  Subject,  "Storage  Batteries  and  Their  Application  to  the 
Christian." 

January  25,  1897,  Bishop  W.  F.  Mallalieu,  D.  D.  He  gave  an 
address  full  of  wholesome  advice  and  encouragement  to  the  Brockton 
Methodists. 

The  presidents  who  have  served  this  organization  are  as  follows: 

1 889  and  1890,  Charles  Eaton  of  Central  Church. 

1891  and  1892,  George  W.  Cobb  of  Campello. 

1893,  Lewis  Alden  of  Holbrook. 

1894,  F.  Herbert  Snow  of  Franklin  Church. 

1895,  B-  L.  Caswell  of  Campello. 

1896  and  1897,  William  J.  Loheed  of  Central  Church. 
The  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  organization  from  its  begin- 
ning has  been  William  E.  Beals  of  Franklin  Church. 


CENTRAL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  BROCKTON,  MASS. 

Not  until  1830  could  enough  Methodist  families  be  found  in 
North  Bridgewater  to  organize  a  church.  Receiving  some  accessions 
about  this  time,  plans  for  building  a  church  were  formulated  and  the 
church  at  ''West  Shares"  (Brockton  Heights)  was  built  a  year  later. 

One  Sabbath  morning  in  Febru- 
ary, 1842,  four  brethren,  while  on 
their  way  to  West  Shares,  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  a  church  in  the 
village,  which  materialized  March 
2,  1842,  when  the  first  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  O.  G.  Smith  in 
the  Academy  building  on  East 
Elm  street.  The  society  soon 
outgrew  these  accommodations 
and  the  Unitarian  Church,  then 
unoccupied,  was  secured.  During 
the  year  the  first  class,  consisting 
of  thirty  members,  was  organized, 
and  about  May  ist  a  Sunday 
school,  with  forty-five  members, 
was  organized,  with  Liberty  Pack- 
ard at  its  head.  After  using  the 
Unitarian  Church  about  one  year, 
the  society  moved  to  Cobb's  Hall, 
THE  CENTRAL  CHURCH.  in  the  Metropolitan  Hotel.  Many 

members  withdrew  in  consequence,  and  the  society  again  moved,  this 
time  to  Bennett's  Hall,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  School  streets. 

When  three  years  of  age,  the  society  purchased  a  lot  on  "Metho- 
dists' Lane"  (Church  street),  and  built  the  Second  M.  E.  Church  of 
North  Bridgewater,  which  was  dedicated  January  8,  1846,  the  dedi- 
catory sermon  being  delivered  by  Rev.  Edward  T.  Taylor  of  Boston. 
Seven  years  later  (1853)  the  church  purchased  an  adjoining  lot,  sold 
the  building  to  the  Congregational  Society  in  Hanover,  where  it  now 
stands,  and  laid  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  church  July  25th.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Benton  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  new  church,  which 
was  dedicated  June  i,  1854,  in  an  unplastered  vestry,  to  an  audience 
seated  on  rude  benches  made  of  plank  and  boxes. 

The  church  continued  to  grow  until  1859  when,  through  the 
crookedness  of  a  certain  man  who  was  acting  as  agent  for  the  board, 
while  carrying  a  true  indebtedness  of  $25,899.70,  it  found  itself  em- 
barrassed with  liabilities  to  the  amount  of  $61.171.10 — an  amount  much 


26 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


larger  than  all  the  value  of  church  and  the  individual  property  of  the 
trustees  combined.  Further  difficulties  presented  themselves.  Some 
who  had  aided  the  church  in  money  matters  became  crippled  finan- 


REV.    C.    M.    MBLDEN,    PH.    D. 

Pastor.    1894-97. 

Now    President    Clark    University,    South 
Atlanta,    Ga. 


MRS.    C.    M.     MELDEN. 


cially  and  were  unable  to  help,  while  others  deserted  the  church  in  its 
time  of  need. 

Two  years  of  heroic  effort  reduced  the  debt  to  about  $6,000.  The 
creditors,  however,  became  very  restless  and  demanded  the  sale  of  the 
church:  but  on  the  day  advertised  for  the  sale  not  a  single  purchaser 


N.    S.    HOLMES. 
President    Board    Trustees. 


REV.   FRANK   P.   PARKIN. 
Pastor,    1SS9-93. 


made  his  appearance.  By  timely  aid  from  other  churches  in  the  con- 
ference and  from  those  brethren  who  stepped  between  the  trustees  and 
the  creditors  the  property  was  saved. 


SOU  I 'EX  IK  HISTORY. 


27 


111  1871  a  lot  was  purchased  and  a  parsonage  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$4,700.  In  this  enterprise  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Circle  took  an  active 
part,  helping  to  raise  the  building  fund  and  assuming  the  expense  of 
fitting  and  furnishing  the  parsonage.  The  latter  service  is  still  per- 
formed by  the  circle. 

The  birth  of  Brockton  occurred  in  1874  and  the  church  took 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  and  changed  its  name  to  the  Central 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Brockton,  and  in  1876  became  the 
banner  church  in  the  conference  in  its  missionary  collections.  As  a 


E.  T.   SAMPSON. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


E.    S.   TRACY,   M.    D. 
Epworth   L,eague   President. 


calm  follows  a  storm,  so  the  years  of  difficulty  were  followed  by  peace 
and  prosperity,  which  has  been  enjoyed  to  the  present  time. 

A  Young  People's  Literary  Society  was  organized  during  C.  B. 
Pitblado's  pastorate  (1886-87).  It  \vas  replaced  by  an  Epworth  League 
two  years  later,  during  the  popular  pastorate  of  Rev.  Frank  P.  Parkin, 
and  named  by  the  young  people  "Parkin  Chapter."  Mr.  Parkin's 
pastorate  was  one  of  the  most  successful  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
During  it  the  church  increased  its  salary  from  $1.400  to  $2,000,  ex- 
clusive of  parsonage.  It  was  during  this  pastorate  that  this  church 
had  additions  to  its  membership  at  every  monthly  communion  service, 
which  has  continued  to  the  present,  covering  a  period  of  nine  years. 

Then  came  Rev.  C.  M.  Melden,  Ph.  D.,  whose  pastorate  was 
marked  by  general  prosperity,  and  in  pulpit  ability  no  church  in  the 
city,  perhaps,  equalled  that  of  Central  Church.  In  September,  1897, 
in  his  fourth  year,  Dr.  Melden  was  elected  president  of  Clark  Univer- 
sity, and  resigned  his  pastorate  to  accept  this  new  position,  much  to 
the  regret  of  the  church  and  the  city. 

Rev.  A.  Horace  Keeler  of  the  Puget  Sound  Conference  was  called 


28 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


to  fill  out  the  year  of  Dr.  Melden.     His  faithful  pulpit  and  pastoral 
work  has  given  great  satisfaction  to  the  church. 

The  history  of  the  Sunday  school  runs  parallel  with  that  of  the 
church,  starting  with  a  membership  of  45  and  increasing  to  978.  It 
has  been  actively  interested  in  missions  and  for  two  years  has  paid  for 
the  tuition  of  a  young  French  Canadian  who  was  fitting  himself  for  the 
ministry.  Mr.  E.  T.  Sampson  is  an  ideal  Superintendent. 


REV.  A.   HORACE  KEELER. 
Pastor,    October,    '97,    to   April   '9 


GRANT  D.  ANTHONY. 
Ex-Epworth  League  Pres. 


The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  this  city,  with  its  present  membership  of  over 
600,  was  born  in  1888  in  one  of  the  revivals  of  this  church.  Other 
societies  of  which  the  Central  Church  is  mother  are  the  Woman's  For- 
eign Missionary  Society,  organized  in  1871.  It  has  adopted  an  orphan 
in  Mexico,  giving  to  it  the  name  of  Mary  C.  James,  in  honor  of  the 
pastor's  wife.  The  Methodist  Social  Union,  formed  Sept.  9,  1889;  a 
Baptist  Church  at  Brookville,  which  was  the  result  of  this  church's 
work;  the  South  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  organized  May 
10,  1879;  the  Franklin  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  1888,  and  the 
Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Campello,  organized  a  year 
later.  Eleven  young  men  have  gone  from  her  fold  to  preach  the 
gospel  and  others  are  now  preparing  themselves  for  the  work. 

During  Mr.  Parkin's  pastorate  efforts  were  begun  to  raise  funds 
for  the  new  church.  A  lot  was  purchased.  A  partial  fund  is  already  in 
the  bank.  A  new  church  is  to  be  erected  within  the  next  few  years 
that  will  be  one  of  the  finest  in  New  England  Methodism.  Rev.  M.  S. 
Kauffman,  Ph.  D.,  who  is  closing  a  successful  five  years'  pastorate 
at  Matthewson  Street  Church,  Providence,  has  just  received  a  unani- 
mous invitation  to  become  pastor  of  this  church  next  year. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


PASTORS. 


1844. 
I845. 

1846. 

1847-48. 

1849. 

I850. 

1851. 

I852-53- 

1854. 

1855-56. 

1857. 

1858-59. 

1860. 

1861-62. 


Smith 

1863-64. 

T.  Ely 

ilds 

1865-67. 

F.   A.'  Crafts 

Atwater 

1868-69. 

J.  Howson 

Atwater 

1870-71. 

J.  FI.  James 

lith 

1872-74. 

T.  M.  House 

leman 

1875- 

W.  T.  Harlow 

Husted 

1876-78. 

D.  A.  Jordan 

ssey 

1879-80. 

G.  A.  Morse 

Wheeler 

1881-82. 

J.   E.   Hawkins 

iton 

1883-85. 

A.   P.   Palmer 

Keown 

1886-87. 

C.  B.  Pitblado 

Gonigal 

1888. 

B.  W.  Hutchinson 

per 

1889-93. 

Frank  P.  Parkin 

mis 

1894-97. 

Charles  M.  Melden 

Alderman 

1897. 

A.  Horace  Keeler 

CENTRAL  CHURCH  PARSONAGE. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — N.  S.  Holmes,  C.  A.  Eaton,  Sanford  Winter,  E.  T. 
Sampson,  A.  H.  Mackie,  F.  S.  Luce,  A.  F.  Small. 

Stezvards — W.  J.  Loheed,  Apollos  Eaton,  H.  W.  Nickerson,  H.  T. 
Lovell,  J.  H.  K.  Dickerson,  Stephen  Snow,  Lendall  Snow,  C.  B. 
Rounds,  W.  A.  Parmenter,  F.  B.  Lowe,  E.  E.  Goodwin,  F.  L.  Boyden, 
S.  D.  Washburne. 

Class  Leaders— H.  M.  Hall,  Charles  Douglass,  W.  H.  Gray,  B.  F. 
Chubbuck,  H.  E.  Wright. 

Sunday  School — E.  T.  Sampson,  Superintendent;  Mrs.  M.  C. 
Wentworth,  Superintendent  of  Intermediate  and  Primary  Department; 
G.  M.  Hart,  Secretary;  H.  W.  Nickerson,  Treasurer;  W.  E.  Ferguson, 
Chorister;  Miss  Grace  James,  Organist;  F.  O.  Ryder,  Sexton. 

Epworth  League — President,  Dr.  E.  S.  Tracy;  Secretary,  Mary 
Tuck,  W.  Winthrop  St.;  Treasurer,  Herbert  T.  Lovell;  Librarian, 
Edward  H.  Jenney;  First  Vice-President,  B.  F.  Chubbuck;  Second 
Vice-President,  Jessie  Snow;  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Gertrude  L. 
Eaton;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Harry  R.  Hinman. 


FRANKLIN  M.  E.  CHURCH,  BROCKTON,  MASS. 

On  Sunday,  October  24,  1887,  William  E.  Beals  gathered  a  few 
boys  into  his  own  home,  534  North  Montello  street,  and  organized 
them  into  a  class  for  Bible  study.  The  number  steadily  increased,  and 
was  finally  organized  as  a  branch  of  Central  School,  with  William  E. 
Beals  as  Superintendent.  With  the  opening  of  spring  the  number  had 
grown  to  fifty  scholars,  with  six  teachers.  It  now  became  necessary 
to  provide  a  larger  place  to  accommodate  this  growing  school.  Ac- 
cordingly a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  a  site,  and  places  were 
considered  for  the  erection  of  a  chapel.  Philip  Reynolds  made  the 
purchase  of  two  lots  on  Snow  avenue,  near  Main  street,  for  $1,000,  and 


FRANKLIN  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE. 

a  chapel  was  soon  erected  at  a  total  cost  of  $2,600,  including  lots,  fur- 
niture, etc.,  and  named  Franklin  Chapel,  in  memory  of  Franklin,  a  son 
of  Philip  Reynolds,  who  had  died  soon  after  the  mission  was  started. 
The  chapel  was  dedicated  in  September,  1888,  by  D.  A.  Jordan,  D.  D., 
Presiding  Elder,  assisted  by  Rev.  B.  W.  Hutchinson,  pastor  of  Central 
Church. 

In  1889  the  Second  Quarterly  Conference  of  Central  Church 
elected  a  board  of  trustees  consisting  of  Barna  Snow,  Philip  Reynolds, 
Frank  B.  Lowe,  E.  M.  Bradley  and  William  E.  Beals. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  students  of  Boston  University  till  May, 
1889,  when  it  became  an  independent  church  and  Rev.  Frank  Borton 


SOU  I' EN  IR  HISTORY. 


of  the  university  was  duly  appointed  pastor.  In  February,  1890,  Mr. 
Borton  returned  to  California  to  get  himself  a  bride,  and  was  therefore 
excused,  and  Rev.  John  D.  Keefe  supplied  till  conference,  when  Rev. 


REV.    J.    WALTER    MORRIS. 


MRS.    J.     WALTER    MORRIS. 


H.  A.  Ridgway  was  appointed  pastor.    He  was  able  to  devote  all  his 
time  to  the  work,  and  good  results  followed.     In  September  of  the 


*** 


B.    S.    KINGMAN. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


CHAS.    H.    HOPKINS. 
Epworth   League   President. 


same  year  Reynolds  Chapter  No.  4191  of  the  Fpworth  League  was 
organized. 

Rev.  F.  H.  Spear  was  appointed  by  the  conference  of  1892.  Un- 
der his  pastorate  the  church  grew  in  spirituality  and  numbers.  In 
1894  Rev.  E.  H.  Depuy  came  by  transfer  from  the  Wyoming  Con- 


32  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

ference.  In  September  of  that  year  further  steps  were  taken  toward 
the  erection  of  a  new  and  larger  edifice.  The  building  committee  con- 
sisted of  Philip  Reynolds,  B.  S.  Kingman  and  Edwin  A.  Sawtelle.  The 
latter  resigned  and  left  the  work  on  the  other  two.  Within  about  one 
year  the  work  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000,  and  the  beauti- 
ful edifice  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham,  D.  D.,  October  6,  1895. 

It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  mention  that  during  the  past  ten  years  the 
Methodist  churches  of  Brockton  have  increased  more  rapidly  than 
those  in  any  other  section  of  the  conference. 

Rev.  E.  H.  Depuy  was  re-appointed  for  the  third  year  in  1896, 
but  his  health  failing,  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a  milder  climate,  and 
was  accordingly  transferred  to  South  California  Conference  in  Sep- 
tember, and  Rev.  J.  Walter  Morris,  a  member  of  that  conference  and 
late  principal  of  Inyo  Academy,  was  transferred  to  New  England 
Southern  Conference  and  stationed  at  Franklin  Church.  A  revival 
spirit  has  characterized  the  church  from  the  start.  A  gracious  revival 
has  just  visited  the  church. 

PASTORS. 

1889.  Frank  Borton  1892-93.     F.  H.  Spear 

John  D.  Keefe  1894-96.     E.  H.  Dupuy 

1890-91.     H.  A.  Ridgway  1896-97.     J.  W.  Morris 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Barna  Snow,  B.  S.  Kingman,  Philip  Reynolds,  W.  E. 
Beals,  Dr.  E.  W.  Clark. 

Stewards — Philip  Reynolds  (D.  S.),  W.  E.  Beals,  B.  S.  Kingman, 
J.  F.  Billings,  Joel  Gray,  E.  A.  Shedd,  Dr.  E.  W.  Clark,  C.  F.  Hart- 
ford (  R.  S.). 

Class  Leader — Lyman  Hoxey. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  B.  S.  Kingman;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Edwin  J.  Watts;  Secretary,  Freeman  Hall;  Librarian,  Will- 
iam E.  Beals. 

Epworth  League — Reynolds  Chapter:  Charles  Hopkins,  President; 
B.  S.  Kingman,  First  Vice-President;  Emma  Reynolds,  Second  Vice- 
President;  Freeman  Hall,  Third  Vice-President;  Maud  Dunn,  Fourth 
Vice-President;  Alice  Snow,  Secretary;  Emma  Norris,  Treasurer. 


PEARL  ST.  METHODIST  CHURCH,  BROCKTON,  MASS. 

What  a  record!  Daughter,  mother,  grandmother!  Daughter  of 
the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  erected  in  Easton;  mother  of 
the  present  church  at  Cochesett,  and  of  the  flourishing  "Central,"  and 
grandmother  to  both  the  "Franklin"  and  "South  Street,"  Brockton. 


REV.    N.    C.    ALGER. 


MRS.   N.  C.   ALGER. 


The  history  of  Pearl  Street  cannot  be  written  without  allusion  to 
the  parent  meeting-house  at  Easton,  which  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Asbury,  October  13,  1795.  Without  entries,  with  no  rented  pews,  no 
plastered  walls,  no  chimneys,  no  stoves.  The  rude  oak  slab  seats, 
backless,  bark  side  down,  were  supported  on  rough  wooden  legs.  Its 
famous  preachers  received  for  salaries  "veal,  beef  and  pig,"  and  some- 
times were  paid  in  "wood,  boards,  shingles,  hay  and  shoes." 

This  structure  stood  until  1830,  when  it  was  sold,  moved  away 
and  altered  into  a  tenement  house.  Another  structure  was  dedicated 
that  year,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  George  Pickering  and  the 
prayer  offered  by  Father  Bates.  Under  Father  Bates'  faithful  minis- 
try, a  class  was  formed  at  Brockton  Heights,  which  was  the  seedling 
destined  to  produce  the  present  society.  He  preached  in  the  house  of 
Mother  (Anna)  Carr,  who  had  often  walked  through  the  woods  to  the 
old  meeting-house,  as  early  as  1829.  Her  house  being  too  small, 
service  was  held  in  the  hall  over  the  old  green  store.  It  was  here  the 
following  agreement  found  expression: 

"NORTH  BRIDGEWATER,  March  9,  1830. 
"Whereas,  we,  the  subscribers,  being  disposed  to  encourage  and 
promote  the  public  worship  of  God  in  a  manner  agreeable  to  the  die- 


34 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


tates  of  our  own  consciences,  do  hereby  agree  to  form  ourselves  into 
a  religious  society  by  the  name  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  So- 
ciety in  North  Bridgewater,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting,  carrying 
on,  and  supporting  the  public  worship  of  God.  In  order  to  carry  our 


SETH     HALL. 
Sunday   School  Superintendent. 


MISS   CORA  SCOTT. 
Epworth   League   President. 


wishes  into  legal  effect,  we  do  further  agree  to  take  the  necessary 
measures,  as  soon  as  may  be  pointed  <mit  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  An  act  respecting  public 
worship  and  religious  freedom,  passed  February  15,  1824,  to  organize 
said  society  agreeable  to  the  provisions  of  said  act." 

Signed  by  Nathaniel  Manley  and  over  100  others. 

Land  was  bought  for  $41.20,  and  the  structure  was  built  in  1830, 
at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  In  Father  Bates'  Journal,  1830,  occur  these  words: 
"Two  great  years.  The  power  of  God  was  displayed  in  the  salvation  of 
many.  We  enlarged  our  borders,  built  two  new  meeting-houses  and 
had  a  large  addition  to  the  church."  The  two  new  meeting-houses 
were  mother  and  daughter,  the  present  "Square  Top,"  so-called,  corner 
of  Washington  and  Elm  streets,  North  Easton,  already  described,  and 
Pearl  Street.  The  former  was  dedicated  about  two  months  previous 
to  the  latter. 

A  parsonage  was  erected  in  1860,  but  unfortunately  now  sold. 

In  1873,  under  S.  M.  Beale,  repairs  were  made  at  a  cost  of  $1,000, 
without  leaving  any  indebtedness.-  The  pulpit  was  transferred  to  the 
rear,  new  carpets,  black  walnut  altar  railing,  with  furniture,  heating 
apparatus,  chandelier,  tinted  walls,  beautified  the  structure.  The  ser- 
mon at  the  re-dedication  was  preached  by  Rev.  G.  E.  Reed,  Fall  River, 
now  President  of  Dickinson  College. 


SUUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


35 


The  pastorate  of  Lyman  G.  Horton  is  worthy  of  remark  because 
of  several  church  improvements  and  a  gracious  revival. 

A  second  Sunday  school  in  connection  with  Pearl  Street  has  been 
organized,  and  class  and  prayer  meetings  are  held  at  Park  Street. 


RUFUS  CARR. 
Ex-S.    S.    Supt. 


MRS.  ANNA  CARR, 
S9  Years  Old. 


Under  the  labors  of  J.  E.  Johnson  in  1896,  new  vestries  were 
added,  new  furnace  was  put  in  and  the  interior  of  the  church  tinted 
and  re-painted  at  a  cost  of  $1,400,  leaving  an  indebtedness  of  only  $350. 
During  his  pastorate  the  membership  of  the  church  was  more  than 
doubled. 

Noble  daughter,  gracious  mother,  revered  grandmother! 

PASTORS. 

After  the  circuit  system  was  discontinued,  the  following  were  the 
pastors  appointed: 


1834.  Phineas  Crandall  1850-51. 

1835.  E.   Bradley  1852. 

1836.  D.    Kilburn  ^53-54- 

1837.  Sanford  Benton  J855-59. 

1838.  C.  Noble  1860. 
1840.  Lewis  Bates  1861. 
1841-42.  Anthony  Palmer  1862. 

1843.  Henry  Mayo  1863. 

1844.  Lemuel  Harlow  1864-65. 
i&tS.  Benjamin  M.  Walker       1866-67. 
1846.  Dixon  Stebbins  1868-69. 
1847-  T.  Spilsted  1870-72. 

1848.  G.  W.  Rogers  1873. 

1849.  J.  Livesey,  Jr.  1874. 


John  D.  King 
Ebenezer   Blake 
Theophilus  B.  Gurney 
A.  B.  Wheeler 
J.  B.  Weeks 
Israel   Washburn 
C.  A.  Carter 
W.  Clapp 

Alexander  Anderson 
F.  Ryder 
J.  B.  Washburn 
Samuel  M.  Beale 
Edward  I.  Hyde 
Joseph  I.  Wood 


36 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1876-77. 

1878-79. 

1880. 

1881. 

1881-82. 

1883. 


Henry  Faville 
W.  G.  Wilson 
R.  E.  Buckey 

F.  W.  Adams 

G.  A.  Reeder 
A.  S.  Hagarty 
F.  W.  Hamblin 


1884.  William  Hartel 

1884-86.  Lyman  G.  Horton 

1887-88.  Charles  T.  Hatch 

1889-90.  Royal  J.  Kellogg 

1891.  George  Bernreuter 

1892-96.  J.  E.  Johnson 

1897.  Nathan  C.  Alger 


THE  PEARL   ST.   CHURCH. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — Cora  I.  Scott  (R.  S.),  Nathaniel  Manley,  Seth  M.  Hall, 
R.  H.  Carr,  Susan  E.  Greenleaf,  Ellen  Alger  (D.  S.),  Susie  Snow, 
S.  E.  Lord. 

Trustees— Seth  M.  Hall,  E.  H.  Williams,  W.  S.  Greenleaf,  Ste- 
phen Bigney,  Rufus  Carr,  Thomas  R.  Marshall,  Frank  D.  Barr. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  R.  H.  Carr;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Stephen  Bigney;  Secretary,  Ralph  Staples;  Treasurer,  Mary 
Reynolds;  Librarian,  Elton  Wilbar;  Assistant,  George  Bigney;  Or- 
ganist, Cora  I.  Scott;  Secretary  S.  S.  Board,  Nettie  McLeod. 

Teachers — S.  M.  Hall,  Cora  I.  Scott,  Abbie  R.  Reynolds,  Susie  M. 
Snow,  Ellen  Alger,  Ellen  Manley,  Mamie  Johnson,  Harriet  Wilbar, 
Leona  Staples  and  the  Pastor. 

Epworth  League — President,  Cora  I.  Scott;  First  Vice-President, 
Abigail  L.  Hartwell;  Second  Vice-President,  Harriet  C.  Wilbar;  Third 
Vice-President,  J.  E.  Alger;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Susie  Snow;  Sec- 
retary, Nettie  McLeod;  Treasurer,  Edith  M.  Holmes. 


SOUTH  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  BROCKTON,  MASS. 

The  growth  of  Brockton  was  phenomenal  during  the  years  imme- 
diately following  the  close  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  increase  of  Methodism  kept  pace  with  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
city.  The  church  situated  at  "West  Shares,"  now  known  as  Pearl 


THE   SOUTH   ST.    CHURCH. 

Street,  ("the  mother  church")  and  the  Central  were  the  only  churches 
available  for  the  Methodist  people,  and  many  Methodist  residents  in 
Campelio  were  obliged  to  walk  a  mile  or  more  in  order  to  find  the 
church  of  their  choice.  This  became  a  serious  inconvenience  to  many, 
and  in.  1879  tlle  Campelio  Methodists  decided  that  the  time  had  arrived 
when  they  should  have  a  church  of  their  own. 

Accordingly,  in    April    of    that    year,    Rev.    John    Livesey    was 

appointed  to  become  pastor  of  the 
new  enterprise.  Services  were  begun 
in  Huntington  Hall  on  Main  Street. 
The  first  class  meeting  was  organized 
May  1 8,  and  John  Montgomery  was 
appointed  class  leader.  (Mr.  Mont- 
gomery is  still  in  active  and  earnest 
service  in  the  church  at  this  writing.) 
The  first  year  the  church  numbered 
fifty-four  members.  Among  those 
early  members  were  George  R. 
Pic  roe,  Charles  Peterson,  J.  Mont- 
gomery, C.  H.  Eldridge,  Paul  Dun- 
bar,  S.  W.  Holbrook,  Lyman  Carl- 
son, 11.  A.  Monk;  and  others  who 
have  passed  to  their  reward. 


THE    SOUTH   ST.    PARSONAGE. 


38  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

In  1880  a  lot  of  land  was  purchased  on  South  street,  reaching 
through  to  Market  street  sufficiently  large  for  a  church  and  parsonage. 
William  S.  Green  and  George  R.  Pierce  were  elected  a  building  com- 


REV.    O.    W.    SCOTT. 


MRS.  O.   W.   SCOTT. 
Editor   "  Children's  Missionary   Friend. 


mittee,  and  a  neat  wooden  edifice  was  erected,  surmounted  by  a  tower 
and  bell.  Philip  Reynolds  of  Brockton  generously  contributed  $1,000 
toward  the  building  fund.  The  church  contained  fifty-eight  pews  and 


EVAN   W.   THOMAS. 
Epworth    League    President. 


GEO.    M.    RYDER. 
Ex-Epworth  League  Pres. 


sittings  for  three  hundred  persons,  and  cost  about  $5,000.  In  1883  the 
society  erected  a  parsonage,  fronting  on  Market  street,  at  an  expense 
of  $2,500.  In  1883  the  church  edifice  was  raised  a  story  and  a  vestry 
added.  This  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Kingsley. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


39 


During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  George  W.  Hunt,  1892-6,  the  church 
was  again  enlarged  and  improved  by  adding  a  gable  wing  10x38  feet  to 
each  side.  To  the  northeast  corner  was  added  a  tower  thirteen  feet 
square,  and  to  the  northwest  corner  a  Gothic  porch,  11x13  feet-  These 
afforded  two  entrances  from  South  street  to  both  the  auditorium  and 
vestries.  The  audience  room  was  seated  with  opera  chairs,  arranged 
in  half  circle,  and  gave  a  seating  capacity  of  500.  The  rooms  were  all 
tastefully  frescoed,  and  a  new  pipe  organ  was  purchased  of  G.  H. 
Hutchins  &  Co.,  Boston.  The  entire  expense  of  rebuilding  and  fur- 
nishing was  $7,300,  all  of  which  was  subscribed  on  or  before  the  day 
of  re-dedication. 

The  re-dedication  services  were  held  June  26,  1893,  and  were 
under  the  direction  of  Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  then  Presiding  Elder  of 
Providence  District.  Bishop  E.  G.  Andrews,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  New 
York,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon,  taking  his  text  from  the  fourth 


C.    WESLEY    PACKARD. 

Sunday   School  Superintendent. 


GEO.   R.    PIERCE. 
President    Board   Trustees. 


chapter  of  St.  John's  gospel,  twenty-fourth  verse,  "God  is  a  Spirit." 
Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan  assisted  in  this  feast  of  dedication. 

The  church  has  continued  to  steadily  increase  in  membership  dur- 
ing its  eighteen  years  of  existence,  until  it  numbers  now  two  hundred 
and  sixty  members  and  thirty-nine  probationers. 

The  Sunday  school  numbers,  with  those  at  Leyclen  Park  Mission, 
three  hundred  and  thirty-five  members.  The  superintendents  have 
been  thus  far:  George  R.  Pierce,  1879-1894;  Evan  W.  Thomas,  1895- 
96;  C.  Wesley  Packard,  1897,  wno  's  the  present  incumbent. 

Mrs.  Scott,  wife  of  the  pastor,  is  a  well-known  writer  to-day.  Her 
articles  are  eagerly  sought  by  the  Sunday  school  and  young  people's 


4o  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

publications.  Among  her  many  published  books  are  the  following: 
"The  Gilead  Guards"  (a  war  story  of  1861  to  1865),  "Compound  In- 
terest," "Nettie  and  Her  Friends,"  "Santa  Claus  Stories,"  "Boys  and 
Other  Boys,"  "Girls  of  To-day,"  "Van  and  Vet,"  "Prove  It,"  "David 

Douglass  and  His  Son." 

PASTORS. 

1879-80.  John  Livesey  i88o-Qi.  J.  Oldham 

1881-82.  S.  F.  Chase  1892-95.  G.  W.  Hunt 

1883-85.  A.  W.  Kingsley  1890.'  O.W.Scott 

1886-88.  H.  E.  Cook 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — George  R.  Pierce,  Chairman;  Charles  Peterson,  Treas- 
urer; B.  L.  Caswell,  L.  Carson,  C.  H.  Eldridge,  J.  Montgomery,  H.  A. 
Monk.  H.  F.  Packard,  H.  Keith. 

Stnvards—G.  M.  Ryder,  E.  W.  Thomas,  C.  H.  Cross,  P.  Welsh, 
J.  McClintock,  A.  D.  Stalker,  W.  H.  Knowles,  C.  Peterson,  J.  W. 
Taft,  A.  Brown,  E.  R.  Leonard,  J.  H.  McKenzie,  G.  H.  Carr. 

Class  Leaders — C.  W.  Packard,  A.  A.  Crocker,  D.  B.  Edson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  C.  Wesley  Packard;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Henry  F.  Packard;  Primary  Superintendent,  Mrs. 
George  R.  Pierce;  Secretary,  H.  Clinton  Atwood;  Treasurer  and  Li- 
brarian, Wilmer  Knowles. 

Epivorth  League — President,  Evan  W.  Thomas;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Warren  A.  Pratt;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  George  Carr; 
Third  Vice-President,  H.  Lester  Newhall;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Lizzie  Baker;  Secretary,  Arthur  Scott;  Treasurer,  Abbie  Knowles; 
Junior  Superintendent,  Mrs.  Grace  Montague. 


SWEDISH  EMMANUEL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  CAMPELLO,  MASS. 

The  Swedish  Emmanuel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  Franklin  Hall,  the  9th  of  September,  1890,  by  Presiding  Elder 
Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  D.  D.  Rev.  S.  L.  Carlander  was  appointed  as 
pastor.  Soon  after  a  lot  was  purchased  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 


THE    SWEDISH   CHURCH. 


REV.    HERMAN    YOUNG. 


Rev.  Mr.  Carlander  was  succeeded  on  April  15,  1891,  by  Rev.  R. 
Cederberg.  After  six  months,  Mr.  Cederberg  was  removed  and  Rev. 
H.  Young,  the  present  pastor,  was  appointed. 

In  the  fall  of  1894  the  present  edifice  was  built,  but  only  the  vestry 
was  finished  and  made  ready  for  services  until  the  9th  of  January, 
1898,  when  the  audience  room  was  dedicated. 

The  church  property  is  valued  at  $16,000.  The  church  has  a 
membership  of  112.  Its  Sunday  School  numbers  70  and  the  Epworth 
League  has  50  members  enrolled.  The  outlook  for  this  church  is  very 
encouraging. 

The  pastor,  Rev.  Herman  Young,  was  born  in  Sweden,  July  12, 
1868.  He  came  to  the  United  States  about  eleven  years  ago  and 
graduated  from  the  M.  E.  Theological  Seminary,  Evanston,  111.,  in 
June,  1891.  After  a  visit  to  Sweden,  he  was  stationed  at  Campello. 
In  1895  ne  made  a  journey  around  the  world. 


EMBURY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  CENTRAL  FALLS,  R.  I. 

This  church  is   an  offspring   of   the   First  Methodist   Episcopal 
Church,  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  and  the  two  are  situated  but  a  short  half- 


CENTRAL    FALLS    CHURCH   AND    PARSONAGE. 

mile  apart.     On  Friday  evening,  April   10,  1868,  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  home  of  Mary  C.  Bragg  to  consider  and  arrange  for  the  forma- 


REV.  J.  H.   NEWLAND. 


MRS.    FAY   M.    NEWLAND. 


tion  of  a  new  church.    There  had  been  a  Sunday  school  for  some  time 
held  in  the  engine  house  on  Broad  street,  and  because  of  the  new  and 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


43 


growing  interest  in  this  and  because  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  village 
of  Central  Falls,  and  also  because  of  the  overflow  of  the  First  Church, 
to  which  most  of  those  interested  belonged,  it  was  concluded  to  organ- 
ize the  new  church.  July  13  of  the  same  year  the  organization  was 
completed.  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D.,  was  at  this  time  pastor  of  the 
First  Church,  Pawtucket,  and  Rev.  S.  C.  Brown,  D.  D.,  Presiding 
Elder  of  the  Providence  district. 

The  Sunday  school,  that  had  been  organized  some  two  years  pre- 
viously, had  at  this  time  gained  a  membership  of  130. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first  members  of  this  church,  set  apart 
from  the  First  Church:  George  H.  Dalton,  Sarah  Dalton,  David  Hart, 


THEODORE    E.    DEXTER. 
Epworth   League  President. 


JAMES  T.  SMITH. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


Sarah  Hart,  Asher  E.  French^  Kate  French,  Henry  C.  Perry,  Stephen 
Northup,  Orinton  L.  Sales,  Sewell  Y.  Robinson,  Julia  E.  Robinson, 
Mary  C.  Bragg,  Alonzo  E.  Burt,  James  Beatty,  Rowland  H.  Fry,  Lot- 
tie E.  Fitz,  Joseph  B.  Perrin,  Annie  E.  Perrin,  Betsey  Wheelock,  Rox- 
anna  Stone,  Sarah  L.  Bliss,  Josephine  Dunlap,  Ellen  McCord,  Esther 
Ashe,  Thomas  Whitworth,  Mary  Whitworth.  Several  others  were  sub- 
sequently added  from  the  mother  church. 

PLACES  OF  WORSHIP. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  a  lot  of  land  was  purchased  on 
Cross  street,  near  its  junction  with  Broad  street,  for  the  sum  of  $1,600, 
and  on  this  a  chapel  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  This  building  was 
24  by  60  feet,  including  a  committee  room  in  the  rear  12  by  24  feet. 
It  was  a  small  place,  but  it  was  a  church  home  for  this  consecrated 
company,  and  their  zeal  soon  made  the  place  too  small  for  the  increas- 


44  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

ing  congregation.  On  September  18,  1875,  work  was  begun  on  the 
new  structure.  The  chapel  was  removed  to  the  rear  to  form  a  part  of 
the  new  plan  and  an  audience  room  was  erected  fronting  on  the  street. 
It  was  arranged  to  seat  350  persons.  The  committee  room  of  the 
chapel  was  also  enlarged  and  furnished  for  a  primary  department. 
This  new  building  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  the  pth  of 
January,  1876.  Rev.  S.  T.  Patterson  was  the  pastor.  This  constitutes 
the  present  place  of  worship. 

A  parsonage  was  built  on  the  lot  next  to  the  church  in  1879  at  a 
cost  of  $1,750.  The  land  was  already  in  the  possession  of  the  church. 
This  was  in  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Ballou.  The  church  and 
parsonage  are  in  good  repair  and  the  members  of  the  congregation  are 
interested  to  keep  them  so. 

PASTORS. 

This  church  was  at  first  supplied  under  the  Presiding  Elder  by 
Rev.  Carlos  Banning.  In  1871,  March  22,  Rev.  E.  D.  Hall  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  church,  in  connection  with  the  Thomson  M.  E.  Church 
in  Pawtucket. 

The  pastorates  have  all  been  marked  with  earnest  labors,  and 
in  some  of  them  some  degree  of  revival  interest  has  prevailed.  The 
membership  has  increased  to  170.  The  Sunday  school  has  an  average 
attendance  of  203. 

1869-70.  Carlos  Banning  1882.  C.  S.  Nutter 

1871-72.  E.  D.  Hall  1883-85.  G.  M.  Hamlin 

1873-74.  W.  H.  Starr  1886-89.  R-  Povey 

1 875 -77-  S.  T.  Patterson  1890-94.  J.  A.  L.  Rich 

1878-79.  G.  W.  Ballou  1895-96.  L.  G.  Horton 

1880-81.  A.  W.  Seavey  1897."  J.  H.  Newland 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — F.  H.  Washburn,  President;  G.  M.  Clark,  A.  H.  Humes, 
W.  A.  Haskins,  A.  E.  Burt,  G.  H.  Dalton,  E.  Spears,  J.  C.  McCartney. 

Stewards — F.  H.  Washburn,  F.  L.  Gerauld,  James  T.  Smith, 
William  Lees,  R.  H.  Fry,  C.  Mixer,  F.  L.  Janitzky,  G.  H.  Fol- 
lett,  T.  E.  Robbins,  W.  Bridgehouse,  L.  C.  Booth,  T.  E.  Dexter. 

Class  Leaders — F.  L.  Gerauld,  G.  H.  Dalton. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  James  T.  Smith ;  Assistant,  Frank 
L.  Gerauld;  Secretary,  N.  W.  Pierce;  Treasurer,  A.  H.  Humes;  Pri- 
mary Department  Superintendent,  Maud  Young;  Assistants,  Abbie 
Thurber,  Corabel  Smith;  Librarian,  F.  L.  Janitzky;  Assistant,  Harry 
Pilling. 

Teachers— Mrs.  J.  C.  McCartney,  Mrs.  F.  L.  Gerauld,  Mrs.  C.  H. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


45 


Mixer,  Mrs.  L.  Snow,  Mrs.  J.  Gerauld,  Mrs.  Rose  Blackburn,  Mrs.  C. 
L.  Corbett,  Mrs.  Abbie  Thurber,  Mrs.  Fay  M.  Newland,  Mrs.  Annie 
Janitzky,  Miss  Hattie  Whipple,  Miss  Bertha  Young,  Miss  Lottie  Fitz, 
Miss  Maud  Young,  Miss  Corabel  Smith,  Miss  Florence  Blount,  Mr. 
F.  L.  Gerauld,  Mr.  A.  E.  Spencer,  Mr.  W.  Heath,  Mr.  Edgar  Spears, 
Mr.  Theo.  E.  Dexter,  Mr.  Frank  Washburn,  Mr.  G.  H.  Dalton,  Rev. 
J.  H.  Newland. 

Epworth  League — President,  Theodore  E.  Dexter;  First  Vice- 
President,  Corabel  Smith;  Second  Vice-President,  Abbie  Thurber; 
Third  Vice-President,  Maud  Young;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Florence 
Blount;  Secretary,  Rose  Blackburn;  Treasurer,  J.  U.  Clarkson. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society — President,  Mrs.  J.  C.  McCartney;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  R.  S.  Sidebottom;  Secretary,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Mixer;  Financial 
Secretary,  Mrs.  H.  I.  Dennis. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CENTERVILLE,  R.  I. 

Just  when  the  first  society  was  organized  in  Centerville  is  not 
known.  There  is,  in  the  archives  of  the  church,  a  private  record  of  one 
of  the  early  members,  Lovwell  Spalding,  from  which  it  appears  that 
there  was  a  quarterly  meeting  held  in  Centerville  Sept.  20-21,  1806. 


THE  CENTREVILLE  CHURCH. 


REV.  J.  H.  BUCKET. 


Thomas  Branch  and  Mr.  Smith  were  the  preachers  on  this  occa- 
sion and  eight  persons  were  baptized. 

"Sunday  evening  they  had  a  prayer  meeting.  Mr.  Smith  was 
struck  down  and  Mr.  Bosard  from  Cumberland  was  also  struck  down 


46  SOUYENIR  HISTORY. 

by  the  power  of  God."  At  half-past  eight  o'clock  they  were  warned  by 
the  authorities  that  they  must  make  less  noise  or  leave  the  schoolhouse. 
This  record  shows  that  there  was  an  organized  society  here  earlier 
than  1806,  for  this  was  a  regular  quarterly  conference,  and  there  is  no 
mention  of  any  organization  being  formed  at  that  time.  The  first 
official  record  is  found  in  a  book,  the  title  page  of  which  reads  as  fol- 
lows : 

"STEWARD'S  BOOK  FOR  WARWICK  CIRCUIT. 

"Lovwell  Spalcling,  William  Barstow,  Stephen  Potter,  Stewards, 
1815." 

The  first  entry  in  this  book  reads:     "N.   Kingston,  July  21-22, 
1810: 

Paid  Rev.  Elijah  Hedding $00.75 

Paid  Rev.  A.  Stebbins 7.07 

Paid  Rev.  A.  Stebbins  for  expenses 52 

The  first  Quarterly  Conference  record  that  has  been  preserved 


THE   CENTREVILL.E   PARSONAGE. 

bears  date  of  July  27-28,  1811.  This  Quarterly  Conference  was  held 
in  Wickford.  Joel  Winch  was  Presiding  Elder  and  Elisha  Streeter 
pastor. 

At  this  time  the  circuit  was  very  large,  extending  from  Wickford, 
R.  L,  to  Plainfield,  Conn.,  and  included  the  following  points:  "Wick- 
ford, Cranston,  North  Kingston,  Gloucester,  Coventry,  Cumberland, 
Douglass,  Little  Rest,  Quidneeset,  Sterling,  East  Greenwich,  Center- 
ville  and  Plainfield."  Prior  to  1831  the  meetings  at  Centerville  were 
held  in  the  school  house.  August  I5th,  1831,  the  General  Assembly 
passed  an  act  incorporating  the  ''Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
Proprietors'  Meeting  House  in  Centerville,  R.  I."  This  corporation 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


47 


controlled  the  church  property  until  Feb.  25,  1880,  when  the  foregoing 
act  was  amended  by  the  General  Assembly,  transferring  the  property, 
in  regular  disciplinary  form,  to  Enos  Lapham,  Moses  Plfield  and 
George  E.  Wood,  "Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Centerville,  Rhode  Island."  This  valuable  transfer  of  property  was 
secured  by  Rev.  Walter  J.  Yates,  who  was  then  pastor.  In  1853  Cen- 
terville dropped  out  of  the  "circuit"  and  became  a  station. 

During  the  pastorate  of  G.  W.  King,  $1,000  was  spent  on  repairs 
and  other  important  projects  undertaken. 

During  the  present  pastorate  the  church  has  enjoyed  unusual 
temporal  and  spiritual  prosperity.  About  $1,000  has  been  spent  on 
the  church  property.  The  church  and  parsonage  have  had  some 
valuable  improvements  in  the  way  of  repairs,  painting,  etc.  This  pas- 
torate has  been  saddened  by  the  death  of  the  pastor's  noble  wife. 

In  1897  Miss  Caroline  E.  Spaulding  left  about  $1,500  to  the  church 
and  its  various  organizations.  This  timely  aid  is  highly  appreciated  by 
the  society.  Of  this  amount  $1,000  is  for  a  home  for  superannuates. 

Centreville  is  a  large,  thriving  town,  a  suburb  of  Providence,  R.  I. 
Many  of  the  business  men  of  Providence  have  their  residences  here. 
The  pastors  who  have  served  this  church  have  almost  all  labored 
successfully.  All  have  labored  faithfully. 

Rev.  Moses  Fifield  was  born  Dec.  7,  1790,  and  died  at  Centerville 
April  19,  1859.  He  joined  the  New  England  Conference  in  1816  and 
superannuated  in  1824.  In  the  latter  year  he  moved  to  Centerville.  At 
that  time  there  was  no  church  building,  the  services  being  held  in  the 
school  house.  He  at  once  identified  himself  with  all  the  interests  of 
the  church  and  took  a  leading  part  in  securing  the  first  church  build- 
ing. Centerville  being  one  appointment  on  a  large  circuit  the  pastor's 
visits  were  few  and  far  between.  For  31  years  Rev.  Moses  Fifield  sup- 
plied, in  the  absence  of  the  pastor,  doing  far  more  preaching  than  he, 
without  any  remuneration.  The  full  value  of  his  labors  in  this  church 
will  not  be  known  until  the  "books  are  opened."  When  the  Centerville 
National  Bank  was  organized  he  was  elected  cashier,  which  office  he 
held  until  his  death.  27  years  later. 

PASTORS. 

1810.  A.  Stebbins  1818.  Jason  Walker 

1811.  Elisha  Streeter  1819.  Benjamin  Sabins 

1812.  William  Marsh  1820-21.  Francis  Dane 

1813.  Daniel  Wentworth  1822.  Lewis  Bates 

1814.  Joel  Steele  1823-24.  Elisha  Frink 

1815.  Edward  Hyde  1825-26.  Benjamin  Hazelton 

1816.  Elisha  Streeter  1827-28.  Francis  Dane 

1817.  Daniel  Dorchester  1829-30.  Amasa  Taylor 


48 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1831- 
1832-33. 

1834- 
1835- 
1836. 

1837- 
1838. 
1839. 
1840. 
1841. 
1842. 

I843- 
1844. 


Charles  Virgin 
Robert  Gould 
William  T.  White 
Samuel  Philips 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 
Samuel  Palmer 
Francis  Dane 
Charles  Howard 
C.  S.  McReading 
J.  C.  Goodridge 
F.  Gavitt 
E.  C.  Erwins 
Henry  Bridge 


REV.    MOSES    FIFIELD. 


1845.  M-  J-  Talbot 

1846-47.  G.  W.  Wooding 

1848.  George  Burnham 

1849-50.  Nathaniel  Bemis 

1851.  William  Richards 

1852.  Nathan  Paine 
1853-54.  Charles  Hammond 
1 85 5-56.  Edward  A.  Lyon 
1857-58.  John  Livesey 

1 8 -,9-60.  Abel  Gardner 

1861-63.  John  B.  Husted 

1864-65.  A.  B.   Kendig 

1866.  A.  Palmer 

1867-68.  William  McK.  Bray 

1869-71.  J.  T.  Benton 

1872-73.  John  Cooper 

1874-76.  William  P.  Hyde 

1877-79.  Walter  J.  Yates 

[880-82.  Edward  L.  Hyde 

1883.  Shadrach  Leader 

1884.  D.  A.  Whedon 
1885-87.  G.  W.  King 
1888-89.  JuKan  S.  Wadsworth 
1890.  George  A.  Grant 
1891-92.  S.  M.  Beale 

1 893-97.  J.  H.  Buckey 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — Moses  Fifield,  M.  D.,  John  Greene,  Lewis  C.  Merrill, 
George  E.  Wood,  Charles  Duke,  Thomas  W.  D.  Clarke,  Albert  Tyler, 
Henry  K.  Wood,  Rhodes  E.  Matteson,  Robert  B.  Treat,  Samuel  M. 
Clark,  Clarence  E.  Howard. 

Trustees — Moses  Fifield,  M.  D.,  George  E.  Wood,  Charles  Duke, 
Robert  B.  Treat,  Harold  Lawton.  Sunday  School  Superintendent  and 
Epworth  League  President,  Robert  B.  Treat. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  CHARTLEY,  MASS. 

The  history  of  Methodism  in  the  town  of  Norton,  of  which  town 
Chartley  forms  a  part,  dates  back  to  the  last  century.  Samuel  Smith, 
one  of  the  earliest  itinerants,  preached  in  the  vicinity  about  1790.  In 
1875  Zadoc  Priest  was  appointed  to  Warren  circuit,  which  included 
the  town  of  Norton.  Mr.  Priest  died  in  this  town  in  1796  and  was  the 
first  Methodist  minister  to  die  in  Massachusetts.  The  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  East  Mansfield  seems  to  have  been  the  result 
of  these  labors.  At  one  time  there  was  a  plan  for  building  a  church 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  [  49 

in  Norton,  but  Mansfield  was  finally  chosen  as  the  place  in  which  to 

build. 

The  first  camp-meeting  east  of  Connecticut  River  was  held  in 

Norton  in  June,  1805,  near  Joseph  Newcomb's  house.  The  famous 
Lorenzo  Dow  and  eleven  other  preachers  were  present.  Another  was 
held  on  the  ground  a  few  years  later.  Dow  attacked  the  rumsellers, 
who  were  present,  and  they  threatened  to  mob  him,  but  it  does  not 
appear  that  they  carried  out  their  purpose. 

The  Reformed  Methodists  and  Wesleyans  have  both  held  meet- 
ings in  the  town.    It  was  in  the  year  1874  that  meetings  were  held  at 


THE  CHARTLEY  CHURCH.         THE  CHARTLEY  PARSONAGE. 

Chartley,  then  called  Lane's  Station,  by  the  Rev.  E.  D.  Hall,  pastor  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  at  Attleboro.  These  meetings  were  held  in  a  pri- 
vate house,  in  the  depot,  and  in  a  jeweler's  shop.  A  Sunday  School 
was  organized  and  Mr.  Freeman  Robbins  of  Attleboro  acted  as  Super- 
intendent. The  work  was  continued  by  the  Attleboro  pastors  till  at 
length  a  neat  and  comfortable  chapel  was  built,  and  dedicated  in 
February,  1876.  The  membership  was  connected  with  the  Attleboro 
church. 

In  1876  R.  Stevenson,  a  student,  was  appointed  to  supply  the 
work  at  Lane's  Station.  On  June  10,  1876,  a  separate  church  was 
organized.  On  July  23d,  1876,  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Brewster  held  the 
first  Quarterly  Conference.  Since  then  it  has  been  a  regular  appoint- 
ment. 

M.  F.  Colburn  was  the  first  resident  pastor,  appointed  in  1881. 

In  1883  the  charge  was  connected  with  North  Rehoboth,  but 
this  arrangement  was  given  up  the  following  year.  Since  then  it  has 
again  been  united  to>  North  Rehoboth,  and  in  1896  the  pastor  took  up 
his  residence  in  Chartley,  and  in  1897  the  name  of  the  charge  ap- 
peared in  the  year  book  as  Chartley  and  North  Rehoboth. 

The  charge  has  always  been!  a  small  one  and  the  change  of  pas- 
tors frequent.  The  present  membership  numbers  18.  There  is  a  pros- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


perous  Sabbath  School,  with  a  membership  of  about  70,  of  which  Mrs. 
R.  T-  Sturdy  has  been  the  efficient  Superintendent  for  a  number  of 
years. 

The  Ep worth  League  has  been  successful  during  1896-97,  under 
the  presidency  of  Mr.  Arthur  T.  Sturdy. 

During  the  year  now  closing  a  neat  and  comfortable  parsonage 
has  been  built. 

PASTORS. 

1876-77.     R.  T.  Stevenson 
1878-79.     F.  M.  Kirgan 

1879.  '       W.  D.  Gray 

1880.  W.  N.  Groome 

1881.  M.  F.  Colburn 
G.  H.  Trevor 

1882.  Frank  S.  Townsend 

1883.  J.  F.  Sheffield 

1884.  W.  H.  Stetson 
H.  B.  Swartz 

1885.  A.  G.  Smith 
1886-88.     H.  D.  Adams 

1889.  W.  W.  Hall 

1890.  Clark  Perry 
1891-92.     S.  F.  Johnson 

1893.  E.  B.  Gurney 

1894.  John  Thompson 

1895.  N.  B.  Cook 
REV.  JAMES  BIRAM.                 1896-97.  James  Biram 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

l^rustccs — John  Harvey,  J.- Herbert  Harvey,  Walter  E.  Harvey, 
Oliver  H.  Lane,  Nathan  Langill. 

Stewards — Walter  E.  Harvey,  Oliver  H.  Lane,  Mrs.  Polly  E. 
Lane,  Mrs.  Carrie  A.  Kilburn,  J.  Herbert  Harvey,  Mrs.  Rachel  J. 
Sturdy,  Mrs.  Annie  L.  Harvey,  Mrs.  Ida  E.  Harvey,  Mrs.  Minnie 
Grossman,  Nathan  Langill. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Rachel  J.  Sturdy. 

Epworth  League — President,  Arthur  T.  Sturdy. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORTH  REHOBOTH,  MASS. 

About  the  year  1798  the  Rev.  John  Brodhead  was  appointed 
to  the  Warren,  R.  I.,  circuit,  which  then  included  the  northern  part 
of  Bristol  County,  Massachusetts.  That  year  a  class  was  formed  in 
the  northwest  part  of  Rebohoth,  Mass.,  and  added  to  that  circuit. 

At  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  in  the  year  1826, 
the  Rev.  Lorenzo  Dow  Johnson,  a  Reformed  Methodist,  held  services 
in  an  unfinished  and  disused  Baptist  church,  a  revival  followed  and 
the  people  joined  the  church  represented  by  Mr.  Johnson.  The  house 
of  worship  was  completed  and  occupied  as  a  Reformed  Methodist 
church. 

In  1843  tne  present  house  of  worship  was  erected.  For  several 
years  the  Rev.  Charles  Hammond,  who  afterward  became  a  mem- 


ill    I 


THE    NO.    REHOBOTH    PARSONAGE. 

her  of  the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  was  pastor.  After  Mr. 
Hammond  left,  as  the  Reformed  Methodists  were  mostly  merged  into 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  it  was  found  impossible  to  obtain  a 
regular  supply  of  preachers  for  the  pulpit. 

At  the  Providence  Annual  Conference,  held  in  Provincetown,  in 
1849,  application  was  made  to  have  the  church  supplied  with  minis- 
ters from  that  body.  The  Rev.  William  Cone  was  the  first  preacher  ap- 
pointed here  by  a  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
class  mentioned  above,  which  in  1810  had  forty-four  members,  but  had 
become  greatly  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  breaking  up  of  the  cir- 
cuit system,  joined  a  few  of  the  Reformed  Methodists  in  the  organiz- 
ing of  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  church  building  passed  into  their  hands  and  at  the  end  of 
the  year  a  membership  of  forty-four  persons  was  reported.  Since 
that  time  there  has  been  more  or  less  of  prosperity. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


In  1886  a  parsonage  was  purchased  with  a  legacy  left  the  church 
by  a  friend  of  the  society. 

In  1897  quite  an  extensive  revival  occurred  and  over  forty  came 
to  the  altar  for  prayers. 

An  Epworth  League  was  organized  June  25,  1897,  and  is  doing 

good  work. 

PASTORS. 


1849.  William  Cone  1876-77. 

1850.  J.  E.  Gifford  1878. 
1852-53.  William  H.  Richards       1879. 
1854-55.  Arnold  Adams  1880-82. 
1856-57.  Henry  H.  Smith  1883. 
1858-59.  Samuel  Fox  1884. 
1860.  Edward  A.  Lyon  1885. 
1861-62.  Abel  Gardner 

1863.  S.  W.  Coggeshall  1886-88. 

1864-65.  Charles  Alorse  1889. 

1866-67.  B.  K.  Bosworth  1889-90. 

1868.  Caleb  S.  Sanford  1891-92. 

1869-70.  John  O.  Adams  l&93- 

1871-72.  Richard  Povey  1894. 

1873.  Elijah  F.  Smith  1895. 

1874-75.  De  Witt  C.  House  1896-97. 


S.  V.  B.  Cross 
S.  P.  Snow 
Charles  Stokes 
J.  A.  Rood 
J.  F.  Sheffield 
George  W.  King 
Charles  Hammond 
John  Cornell 
H.  D.  Adams 
W.  W.  Hall 
Clark  Perry 
S.  F.  Johnson 
E.  B.  Gurney 
John  Thompson 
N.  B.  Cook 
James  Biram 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Randall  B.  Bullock,  Osborne  Perry,  Frank  Stevens, 
Eugene  B.  Rounds,  James  S.  Morehouse,  George  A.  Dean. 

Stewards — Osborne  Perry,  Eugene  B.  Rounds,  Randall  B.  Bul- 
lock, James  S.  Morehouse,  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Fields,  Mrs.  Harriet  Perry, 
Miss  Martha  J.  Morehouse,  Miss  Elizabeth  Lincoln,  Miss  Martha 
Dean,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bullock,  Miss  H.  Emma  Rounds,  Miss  Katie  A. 
Smith. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Joseph  Rounds. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Kate  A.  Smith. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  COCHESETT,  MASS. 


The  rise  and  progress  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  West  Bridgewater 
dates  back  to  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

In  1829  Rev.  Lewis  Bates  and  Rev.  Sanford  Benton  held  a  series 


THE    COCHESETT    CHURCH. 

of  meetings,  at  which  time  several  persons  experienced  religion.  For 
the  next  three  years  preaching  was  maintained  by  Rev.  George  Pick- 
ering, Rev.  Phineas  Crandall,  Rev.  Dexter  King  and  others,  when 
the  first  class  was  formed.  In  the  year  1840  Mr.  Caleb  Howard,  at 
his  own  expense,  erected  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  meeting  house- 


REV.    W.    B.    HEATH. 


MRS.    \V.    B.    HEATH. 


This  house  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Frederic  Upham,  preaching  the  ser- 
mon from  Luke  ii,  5. 

•  A 

In  March.  1841,  Rev.  L.  Bates  appointed  a  protracted  meeting.    A 


54 


SOU  I  'ENIR  HISTORY. 


great  revival  was  the  result,  and  nearly  150  persons  experienced  justi- 
fication by  faith  in  Christ.  96  of  whom  were  baptized.  This  so  strength- 
ened the  society  as  to  enable  them  to  support  preaching  on  the  Sab- 
bath, which  has  been  continued  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

In  the  spring  of  1841  Rev.  J.  J.  P.  Colyer  commenced  preaching 
here:  he  was  greatly  beloved,  remaining  two  years.     He  was  followed 


THE    COCHESETT    PARSONAGE. 


MRS.    JULIA    A.    TOWNSEND. 

by  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Coggeshall.  Rev.  Paul  Townsend  was  the  next 
pastor.  This  year  the  small  chapel  w^as  insufficient  to  accommodate 
the  increasing  congregation. 

On  December  18,  1844,  a  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated. 
The  cost  of  this  church  was  $2,468,  of  which  Mr.  Caleb  Howard  paid 
$1,975.  To  Mr.  Howard  and  his  noble  wife,  who  shared  equally  with 
him  in  labor  and  sacrifice,  the  church  is  largely  indebted  for  its  estab- 
lishment and  growth.  The  prayers  and  saintly  life  of  Mrs.  Nancy 
Howard  still  linger  in  the  memories  of  the  people  and  rest  as  a  bene- 
diction upon  their  hearts. 

In  1878  the  parsonage  and  contents  were  burned;  thus  much  that 
was  valuable  concerning  the  history  of  the  later  years  of  the  church 
was  destroyed. 

PASTORS. 
1829-40.     Lewis  Bates  1844-45. 


1841-42. 
1843- 


Lewis  Bates 
Sanford  Benton 
George  Pickering 
Phineas  Crandall 
Dexter  King 
and  others 
J.  J.  P.  Colyer 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 


1846-47. 

1848-49. 

1850.   ' 

1851-52- 

1853-54. 

1855-56. 

1857-59- 


Paul  Townsend 
A.  U.  Swinerton 
Daniel  Webb 
Thomas  Hardman 
Franklin  Gavitt 
James  M.  Worcester 
E.  B.  Hinckley 
Sanford  Benton 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  55 

1860.  H.  D.  Robinson  1876.  J.  W.  Sutherland 

1861  Charles   Hammond  1877.  A.  McCord 

1862-63.  J.  C.  Allen  1878.  George  E.  Fuller 

1864-65.  Franklin  Sears  1879-80.  D.  M.  Rogers 

1866-67.  Walter  Ela  1881-82.  T.  B.  Gurney 

1868.  James  Mather  1883-85.  J.  A.  Rood 

1869.  Philip  Crandon  1886-87.  G.  E.  Dunbar 
1870-71.  Paul  Townsend  1888-90.  R.  J.  Kellogg 
1872.  Edwin  G.  Babcock  1891-93.  Robert  Clark 
1873-74.  Benjamin  L.  Sayer  1894-95.  E.  S.  Hammond 
1875.  E.  A.  Boyden    '  .1896.  William  B.  Heath 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

George  F.  Evans,  William  A.  Cole,  George  F.  Shaw,  Isaac  Win- 
ship,  Everett  Clark,  Charles  H.  Fuller,  Eleazer  A.  Cole,  Mrs.  Rossa 
R.  Shaw,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Townsend,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Adams,  Miss 
Cora  H.  Alger,  Miss  Irene  S.  Wood,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Alger. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Rossa  R.  Shaw;  Assistant, 
Miss  Cora  H.  Alger;  Secretary,  William  Cole;  Treasurer,  Miss  Julia 
Townsend;  Teachers,  Rev.  William  B.  Heath,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Heath, 
Miss  Julia  A.  Townsend,  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Fuller,  Mrs.  George  T. 
Shaw,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Alger,  Miss  Irene  S.  Wood,  Miss  Cora  H.  Alger. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mrs.  William  B.  Heath;  First  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  R.  R.  Shaw;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Julia  Town- 
send;  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Cora  Alger;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Sarah  J.  Alger;  Fifth  Vice-President,  Irene  S.  Wood;  Sixth  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Clara  Silvie. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  DROWNVILLE,  R.  I. 

Some  time  in  1869  a  few  members  of  the  Warren  and  the  Power 
Street  (Providence)  M.  E.  churches  residing  in  Barrington,  desiring  to 
enjoy  the  ordinances  and  privileges  of  the  house  of  God  in  connection 
with  the  church  of  their  choice  and  in  the  vicinity  of  their  homes, 
opened  a  hall  for  a  mission  Sunday  school  and  for  preaching.  These 
services  were  continued  until  June,  1871.  On  June  18  of  that  year 
the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  organized  the  church  in 
Noyatt  Hall,  with  the  following  members  and  probationers:  Richard 
Dow,  preacher;  George  Noble,  Secretary;  George  Noble  and  Jonathan 
Allen,  Stewards;  Messrs.  Noble  and  Allen,  with  Edward  Clark,  Trus- 
tees; members,  Jonathan  Allen,  Eliza  Allen,  George  Noble  and  Mary 
Noble;  probationers,  Henrietta  Allen,  Ida  E.  Salisbury,  Henry  J. 
Veith,  Harriet  M.  Vieth,  Edward  L.  Clark,  William  Jones  and  Eliza- 
beth Jones. 


56  SOUl'EXIR  HISTORY. 

In  April,  1872,  Rev.  Carlos  Banning  was  appointed  to  the  charge. 
During  this  conference  year  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  Drown 
House  at  Drown ville.  In  1873  Mr.  Stanley  was  in  charge  of  the 
church.  In  June,  1874,  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  of  Mystic  Bridge,  Conn., 
was  the  pastor,  and  remained  until  October,  when  Rev.  George  W. 
Brewster  sent  John  E.  Risley.  A  building  committee  was  organized 
and  the  pastor  appointed  to  collect  funds  to  build  a  chapel.  The  chapel 
was  completed  and  dedicated  in  November,  1875.  Mr.  Risley  was  ap- 
pointed in  1875  and  '76.  At  the  watch  night  meeting,  held  December 
31,  1875,  a  revival  began,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of  15  souls.  From 
the  spring  of  1876  to  1885  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  local  preachers 
from  Providence,  East  Greenwich  and  elsewhere.  Mr.  A.  F.  Smith, 
an  exhorter,  was  for  a  time  in  charge.  During  i885-'88  Rev.  J. 
Mather  was  in  charge  and  under  him  the  church  prospered  temporally 
and  spiritually. 

H.  D.  Adams  was  the  pastor  during  the  next  conference  year. 
F.  L.  Brooks  was  then  pastor  for  two  years.  During  his  administration 
the  large  comfortable  parsonage  was  built  and  the  church  altered.  He 
was  pastor  at  Riverside  also  and  built  the  church  there. 

In  1893-95  RCV-  E.  E.  Phillips  was  pastor.  Under  his  care  the 
membership  of  the  church  increased  from  27  to  43.  Twenty-one  per- 
sons professed  conversion.  The  church  debt  was  also  reduced  $600 
while  Mr.  Phillips  was  in  charge.  In  1895-97  Rev.  E.  G.  Babcock  was 
pastor  in  charge.  The  Junior  Endeavor  League,  established  under  Mr. 
Phillips,  was  disbanded  and  a  senior  league  was  instituted.  M.  R. 
Foster  is  the  present  pastor. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  BRA1NTREE,  MASS. 


At  the  last  business  meeting  of  the  Epworth  League  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  of  East  Braintree,  held  January  7,  1898,  it  was 
voted  that  the  league  be  known  as  the  "Miller  Chapter"  oi  the  Epworth 


THE  EAST  BRAINTREE  CHURCH. 


League.  It  may  be  interesting  to  some  to  know  the  reason  of  this 
choice:  it  was  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  William  Miller,  who  passed 
away  some  years  ago,  but  is  still  well  remembered  by  the  people  of 


REV.  W.   J.  KELLY. 


MRS.    W.    J.    KELLY. 


East  Braintree,  that  the  first  prayer  meeting  was  held,  from  which 
has  grown  the  church  oi  which  this  league  is  now  a  part. — Braintree 
Reporter. 

The  prayer  meeting  referred  to  above  was  held  July  19,  1880,  at 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


the  residence  of  Mr.  O.  B.  Sears,  and  was  conducted  by  Mr.  H.  M. 
Storm,  the  present  class  leader.  At  this  meeting  it  was  agreed  to 
secure  a  hall  in  which  to  hold  meetings  and  two  weeks  later  a  Sunday 
school  was  organized  and  Sunday  afternoon  preaching  services  estab- 


JOSEPHUS    SAMPSON. 


MABEL    F.    JOHNSON. 


lished.  From  1880  to  1890  the  work  was  carried  on  as  a  part  of  the 
South  Braintree  charge,  when  the  hall  in  which  the  services  were  held 
had  to  be  given  up,  it  being  converted  by  its  owner  into  a  dwelling. 
As  there  was  no  other  suitable  place  for  meetings  available  it  became 

a  question  whether  the  work  should 
be  abandoned  or  a  separate  society 
organized  and  a  house  of  worship 
erected.  The  latter  course  was  decid- 
ed upon,  and  at  a  meeting  held  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  J.  E.  Johnson,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1890,  twenty-seven  persons, 
members  of  the  South  Braintree 
Church,  presented  their  letters  to  the 
Rev.  S.  O.  Benton,  Presiding  Elder 
of  the  Providence  District,  and  were 
organized  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  East  Braintree.  Steps 
were  immediately  taken  towards  the 
WILLIAM  MILLER.  erection  of  a  church,  and  on  May  10, 

1891,  the  young  society,  which  had  been  without  a  pastor  or  a  place  in 
which  to  hold  any  kind  of  a  service  for  about  a  year,  had  its  new 
church,  built  at  a  cost  of  $3.500,  dedicated  practically  free  of  debt,  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  59 

Rev.  Dr.  Parkhurst,  editor  of  "Zion's  Herald,"  preaching  the  sermon. 
The  church  has  been  supplied  by  the  following  pastors,  nearly 
all  of  whom  have  been  students  at  Boston  University,  or  some  other 
institution,  during  their  pastorate: 

PASTORS. 

1891.  A.  S.  Staples  l^93~95-     Ambrie  Field 

G.  B.  Rogers  1896-97.     William  J.  Kelly 

1892.  M.  W.  Reece 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — H.  M.  Storm,  J.  Sampson,  William  Nickson,  A.  A. 
Pratt,  J.  F.  Allen. 

Stewards — H.  M.  Storm,  J.  Sampson,  William  Nickson,  W.  H. 
Godfrey,  A.  A.  Pratt,  Mrs.  L.  F.  Johnson,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Abbott,  Miss 
S.  C.  Bennett,  Miss  L.  M.  Clark,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Allen,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Pratt, 
Mrs.  S.  Nickson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  Sampson;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, H.  M.  Storm;  Secretary,  Eva  C.  Platt;  Treasurer,  Lulie  M. 
Stcrm,  Lulie  M.  Clark,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Kelly,  W.  J.  Kelly,  Mabel  A. 
Johnson. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mabel  A.  Johnson;  Vice-Presidents, 
H.  R.  Smith,  Sarah  C.  Bennett,  O.  P.  K.  Harsman,  Cassie  L.  Souther; 
Secretary,  Nellie  Storm;  Treasurer,  William  H.  Godfrey;  Junior  Su- 
perintendent, Lulie  M.  Clark. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  GREENWICH,  R.  I. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  Methodist  organizations  in  New  England. 
The  place  first  appears  in  the  appointments  of  1792,  though  Jesse  Lee 
is  supposed  to  have  preached  here  in  1789.  The  first  pastor  was 
Lemuel  Smith;  presiding  elder,  Jesse  Lee.  Seven  ladies  composed  the 
first  class,  though  at  the  close  of  the  year  sixteen  members  were  re- 
ported. Only  three  of  the  names  of  the  original  seven  can  be  ascer- 
tained. They  are  Mrs.  Ruth  Mumford,  Mrs.  Joseph  Green  and  Mrs. 
James  Sweet. 

In  1797  East  Greenwich  appears  connected  with  Warren,  and  also 
again  in  1799.  The  following  year  Bishop  Asbury  and  Richard 
Whatcoat.  visited  the  circuit,  which  reported  twenty  preaching  places. 

The  first  quarterly  conference  of  which  any  record  exists  was 
held  in  Wickford  in  1811. 

In    1822    Lewis    Bates    and    Tohn    E.    Rislev    were    the    circuit 


6o 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


preachers.  There  was  an  extensive  revival  with  some  forty  conver- 
sions this  year  in  East  Greenwich.  In  1833  the  church  edifice  was 
built,  which,  though  remodeled,  still  stands.  The  following  is  the  list 
of  original  trustees:  Oliver  Wickes,  Daniel  Green,  Ezra  Pollard,  Rob- 
ert B.  Hall,  Thomas  G.  Allen,  F.  G.  Hill  and  David  W.  Hunt.  Dr. 
Wilbur  Fiske  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon  from  Psalms  xciii,  5. 
Robert  Gould  and  Hiram  Cummings  were  the  preachers  in  charge. 

The  next  year  a  sweeping  revival  is  reported  under  the  pastorate 
of  James  Porter.  In  1846  the  parsonage  was  built,  which  is  still  used. 
Rev.  L.  W.  Blood  was  preacher  in  charge. 

During  the  years  1850  and  1851,  under  the  labors  of  Richard 
Livesey,  one  hundred  and  twenty  were  converted,  and  during  the 


THE  EAST  GREENWICH  CHURCH. 

following  two  years'  pastorate  of  William  Cone  more  than  one  hun- 
dred were  converted. 

In  the  record  for  1868,  S.  A.  Winsor,  pastor,  we  read:  "Several 
professed  conversion,  among  them  a  number  of  contrabands." 

During  the  pastorate  of  S.  O.  Benton  in  1876,  a  large  addition 
was  built  in  the  rear  of  the  church  to  accommodate  the  organ  and 
choir. 

W.  J.  Yates  was  preacher  in  charge  for  three  years,  beginning 
1880.  He  was  very  active  and  efficient  in  the  temperance  cause,  and 
in  prosecuting  the  rumsellers  of  the  place,  who  became  greatly  embit- 
tered toward  him.  One  evening  two  stones  were  thrown  at  him 
through  one  of  the  parsonage  windows,  but  he  escaped  injury. 

In  1883,  W.  H.  Starr,  pastor,  the  church  was  improved  at  a  cost 
of  $2.500,  and  seven  years  later,  during  the  fourth  year  of  J.  B.  Smith's 
pastorate,  it  was  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  $6.500. 


SOUYENIR  HISTORY. 


61 


During  the  five  years'  pastorate  of  J.  E.  Hawkins,  ending  in  1896, 
the  church  debt  was  reduced  from  $5,450  to  $4,000.  The  centennial 
of  East  Greenwich  Methodism  was  celebrated  November  27,  1892. 

The  present  membership  numbers  130  full  members,  with  six 
probationers. 

The  presence  of  the  Conference  Academy  here,  whose  teachers 
and  students  largely  attend  the  Sunday  morning  service,  makes  this  a 
very  important  charge. 

PASTORS. 


1792.          Lemuel  Smith 

1703.  David   Kendall 

Enoch  Mudge  1820. 

1704.  Joshua  Lovel!  1821. 
17^5.           John  Hill                            1822. 

David  Bromley 

1796.  Stephen  Hull  1823. 

1707.  Nathaniel  Chapin 

Wesley   Budd  1824. 

1798.  Stephen  Hull 

1799.  Ezekiel  Canfield  1825. 
Joshua  Hall 

Truman  Bishop  1826. 

1800.  Joshua  Snelling 

Solomon  Langdon  1827. 

1801.  John  Finnegan  1828. 
David  Fiddler 

1802.  Reuben  Hubbard 

Caleb  Morris  1829. 

A.  H.  Cobb 

1803.  Alexander  McLane          1830. 
Noble  VV.  Thoiii-n  1831. 

1804.  Alex.   McLane  1832. 
D.    Burge 

Clement  Parker  l&33- 

1805.  Epaphras  Kibby 

1806.  Pliny  Brett  1834-35. 
Joseph  Smith  1836-37 

1807.  Pliny   Brett  1838. 
1808-9.       Theophilus  Smith  1839. 

1810.  A.  Stebbins  1840 

1811.  Elisha  Streeter  1841. 

1812.  Warren  Bannister 

1813.  Daniel  Wentworth  1842. 

1814.  Joel  Steele 

1815.  Edward    Hyde  1843-45 

1816.  Elisha  Streeter  1846. 

1817.  Daniel  Dorchester  1847-48. 

1818.  Jason  Walker  1849. 

1819.  Isaac  Stoddard  1850-51 


Solomon  Sias 

Benjamin  Sabin 

Hezekiah  Thatcher 

Francis  Dane 

Lewis   Bates 

John  E.  Risley 

Elisha  Frink 

Caleb  D.  Rogers 

Elisha  Frink 

E.  K.  A  very 

B.  Hazelton 

M.  Wilbur 

B.  Hazelton 

O.  Robbins 

Francis  Dane 
F.  Dane 

A.  Otis 

J.  W.  Case 

Amasa  Taylor 

John  D.  Baldwin 
Amasa  Taylor 

Charles  Virgin 
Robert  Gould 

Jonathan  Cady 
Robert  Gould 
Hiram  Cummings 

James  Porter 
Nathan  Paine 
B.  K.  Bannister 
Francis   Dane 
Joseph  Macreading 
B.  F.  Tefft 
John  W.  Case 
George  F.  Poole 
S.  C.  Brown 
S.  C.  Brown 
L.  W.  Blood 
H.  W.  Houghton 
J.  M.  Worcester 
Richard    Livesey 


62 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1852-53.  William  Cone  1868. 

1854-55.  Nathaniel   Bemis  1869-71. 

1856.  *  William    H.   Stetson        1872. 

1857.  William  Livesey  J873- 
1858-59.  Richard  Donkersley  1874. 

1860.  '  S.  W.  Coggeshall  1875-77. 

James  A.   Dean  1878. 

1861.  James  A.   Dean  1879. 

1862.  C.  S.  Sanford  1880-82. 
1863-64.  A.  P.  Aikin  1883-85. 

1865.  E.  S.  Stanley  1886-87. 

1866.  A.  A.  Wright  1888-91. 
J.  T.  Benton  1891-95. 

1867.  J.  T.  Benton  1896-97. 


S.   A.   Winsor 
J.    F.    Sheffield 
James  Mather 
Azariah  B.  Wheeler 
George  W.  Wright 
S.  Olin  Benton 
G.  DeB.  Stoddard 
W.  F.  Steele 
W.  J.  Yates 
William  H.  Starr 
S.  Hamilton  Day 
J.  B.  Smith 
J.  E.  Hawkins 
Ambrie  Field 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — F.  D.  Blakeslee,  E.  G.  Carpenter,  S.  F.  Crompton, 
Daniel  Burdick,  T.  C.  Strickland,  J.  H.  Carpenter,  W.  J.  Starr,  T.  B. 
Boardman,  T.  W.  Fawly. 

Stewards— E..  G.  Carpenter,  M.  M.  Reynolds,  A.  W.  Place,  T.  C. 
Strickland,  F.  E.  Crowell,  T.  W.  Cole,  T.  W.  Fawly,  J.  H.  Carpenter, 
W.  J.  Starr,  Richard  Hoag,  John  Cornell,  W.  G.  Wheelock,  Jr. 

Local  Preacher — H.  P.  Snow. 

Effective  Elder — F.  D.  Blakeslee. 

Supernumerary — D.  A.  Whedon. 

Superannuate — F.  A.  Loomis. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  G.  Wheelock,  Jr.;  First 
Assistant  Superintendent,  J.  H.  Carpenter;  Second  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, W.  J.  Starr;  Secretary,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Place;  Assistant  Secre- 
tary, Reuben  Hart;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Fuller;  Librarian,  Waldo 
Carpenter;  Organist,  Miss  Bessie  Fuller;  Assistant  Organist,  Miss 
Lola  Austin. 

Teachers — J.  H.  Carpenter,  Ambrie  Field,  Mrs.  A.  Field,  W.  J. 
Starr,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Starr,  Miss  R.  M.  Fuller,  Miss  Mary  Boardman, 
Miss  S.  A.  Boardman,  Miss  Susan  Wightman,  Miss  Bessie  Fuller, 
Mrs.  Ruth  Burlingame,  Miss  Ida  Hawkins. 

Epworth  League — Vincent  Chapter,  No.  2774:  President,  Miss 
Rose  M.  Fuller;  First  Vice-President,  Miss  S.  Alice  Boardman;  Sec- 
ond Vice-President,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Fuller;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
A.  Field;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss  Ida  Hawkins;  Secretary, 
William  G.  Wheelock,  Jr. :  Treasurer,  Richard  Hoag. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  WEYMOUTH,  MASS. 


The  material  for  this  sketch  has  been  derived  chiefly  from  a  his- 
tory of  the  church  written  by  Rev.  Walter  Ela,  in  the  year  1873,  when 
he  was  its  pastor,  and  from  documents  and  other  data  in  possession 
of  Mr.  John  W.  Bates,  one  of  the  office  bearers  in  the  church  at  the 
present  time. 

Weymouth  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  Massachusetts,  Plymouth 

only  having  been  settled  a  few 
years  earlier.  The  Church  of  the 
Pilgrims  and  the  Puritans,  Cal- 
vinistic  in  doctrine  and  Congre- 
gational in  government,  became 
firmly  established  here,  and  was 
for  many  years  the  only  ecclesi- 
astical body  in  the  town.  East 
Weymouth  was  a  part  of  the 
"North  Parish,"  whose  house  of 
worship  was  located  at  Wey- 
mouth Heights.  There  was  no 
church  or  place  of  regular  wor- 
ship in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town  until  the  Methodists  ap- 
peared. 

Previous  to  1822  Methodist 
ministers  occasionally  visited  the 
town  and  it  is  known  that  Jotham 
Horton,  Edward  T.  Taylor  and 
Frederick  Upham  had  preached 
here,  yet  apparently  with  no  permanent  result. 

In  the  autumn  of  1822  Urban  Rice,  while  visiting  in  Springfield, 
was  converted  among  the 
Methodists.  Returning  to 
East  Weymouth  shortly  after, 
he  began  at  once  to  do 
the  work  of  an  evangelist 
among  the  people,  thus  be- 
coming one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Methodist  church  in 
this  place.  About  the  same 
time  Joseph  Dunbar,  a  young 
Methodist  convert  from 
Hingham,  announced  to 
the  congregation  in  the  THE  EAST  WEYMOUTH  PARSONAGE. 


64  SOL'l'EXIR  HISTORY. 

"Old  North  Church"  at  the  close  of  a  Sunday  afternoon  service:  "God 
willing,  there  will  be  a  religious  meeting  in  the  Back  River  school- 
house  this  evening."  The  "Back  River  schoolhouse"  was  in  East 
Weymouth;  the  "religious  meeting''  was  part  of  the  beginning  of  a 
permanent  Methodist  movement;  and  Joseph  Dunbar  was  soon  to 
become  the  first  Methodist  class  leader  in  the  place. 

Aaron  D.  Sargent,  who  was  preacher-in-charge  of  the  Scituate 
circuit,  soon  established  regular  preaching  services  at  East  Weymouth, 
which  were  held  at  the  home  of  David  Rice,  the  father  of  Urban  Rice, 
in  a  gambrel-roofed  house  which  still  stands  on  Pleasant  street,  not 
far  from  the  site  of  the  first  house  of  worship.  A  class  of  eleven  mem- 


OLD  RICE  HOUSE. 


CYRUS  WASHBURN. 


bers  was  organized,  probably  in  May,  1823,  with  Joseph  Dunbar  as 
leader.  This  was  the  first  Methodist  organization  in  the  town.  Until 
1825  this  class  continued  to  be  a  part  of  the  Scituate  circuit.  Stephen 
Puffer  and  Benjamin  Jones  were  the  preachers  in  1823,  and  John 
Adams,  Moses  Sanderson  and  LeRoy  Sunderland  in  1824. 

Early  in  the  year  1825  a  building  lot  was  secured  and  a  church 
edifice  was  nearly  finished  when  the  Conference  met  in  June.  At  that 
time  this  place  became  a  separate  station,  with  Samuel  Norris  as 
preacher.  The  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  June  22,  1825, 
the  sermon  of  the  occasion  being  preached  by  Rev.  Isaac  Bonney.  So 
prosperous  was  the  church  that  it  became  necessary  to  enlarge  the 
chapel  considerably  in  1828.  Then  followed  a  period  of  fourteen  years 
marked  by  steady  success  and  uninterrupted  growth.  The  names  of 
LeRoy  Sunderland,  Lewis  Bates  and  Epaphras  Kibby,  which  appear 
in  the  list  of  the  preachers  of  that  time,  and  also  those  of  Orange  Scott, 
John  Newland  Maffitt  and  Thomas  C.  Pierce,  who  occasionally 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


preached  here,  remind  us  that  "there  were  giants  in  those  days."  Ed- 
ward A.  Lyon,  whose  name  and  labors  are  held  in  precious  memory 
because  of  the  fruitful  revival  interest  which  attended  his  work  here, 
is  the  sole  survivor  of  the  pastors  of  that  period. 


REV.   W.    I.    WARD. 


MRS.    W.    I.    WARD. 


The  year  1842  proved  to  be  crucial  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
The  Methodist  form  of  government  was  new  to  the  people.  Even 
after  nearly  twenty  years  of  prosperity  under  it,  many,  while  loyal  to 


JOSEPH   A.    GUSHING. 
Recording   Steward. 


ZACHARIAH    L,.    BICKNELL,. 
District  Steward. 


Methodist  doctrines,  desired  that  the  church  should  act  independently 
of  Presiding  Elders  or  Bishops  in  choosing  a  pastor.  After  a  period 
of  agitation,  a  majority  of  the  members  organized  themselves  into  a 


66 


SOUi'ENIR  HISTORY. 


new  church,  having  a  Congregational  form  of  government,  and  ob- 
tained peaceful  and  legal  possession  of  the  church  property.  In  1843 
they  demolished  the  old  house  of  worship  and  erected  a  new  one  on 
the  same  spot;  and  it  stands  there  at  the  present  time.  For  several 
years  the  new  society  had  its  pulpit  supplied  by  Methodist  Protestant 
and  Wesleyan  Methodist  preachers,  but  it  finally  became  a  regular 
Congregational  church,  and  remains  such  to-day,  bearing  faithful 
witness  to  Christ  and  His  gospel. 

There  remained  a  goodly  number  of  thorough-going  Methodists 
who  maintained  the^  original  organization.    Once  more  a  private  house 


THE  OFFICIAL,  BOARD. 

was  used  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  then  the  village  schoolhouse,  until 
another  church  building  was  erected.  Of  the  Board  of  Trustees  which 
held  this  property,  one  member,  Cyrus  Washburn,  survives.  He  was 
the  builder  of  this  and  the  other  two  houses  of  worship  which  the 
society  erected  subsequently.  He  is  still  a  trustee  of  the  Methodist 
church  property  in  East  Weymouth,  although  he  no  longer  resides 
here.  The  church  was  dedicated  October  30,  1844,  during  the  pastor- 
ate of  Henry  Mayo,  the  dedication  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev. 
George  Landon.  Six  years  later,  when  John  B.  Gould  was  pastor,  it 
was  considerably  enlarged,  and  when  re-dedicated,  October  23,  1850, 
Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  D.  D.,  preached  the  sermon.  In  a  little  more  than 
a  year  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Another  building  was  erected  on  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


67 


same  spot  during  the  first  year  of  the  pastorate  of  C.  H.  Titus,  and 
was  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God  October  12,  1852.  On  this  occa- 
sion the  sermon  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Daniel  Wise,  D.  D.  This,  too, 
was  enlarged  under  the  administration  of  John  Howson,  in  order  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  growing  society.  When  formally  re-opened, 
October  27,  1864,  Rev.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  D.  D.,  was  the  preacher 
of  the  occasion.  Once  more  the  society  was  tried  by  fire,  for  this 
building  was  burned  early  in  1870.  A  new  location  on  Broad  street 
was  now  decided  upon,  and  the  present  house  of  worship  was  ready 
for  occupancy  before  Christmas  of  that  year.  The  funds  with  which  to 
pay  for  this  building  were  raised  by  W.  V.  Morrison  during  the  last 


INTERIOR    VIEW,    SHOWING    THE    PIPE    ORGAN. 

weeks  of  his  pastorate.  His  successor,  F.  J.  Wagner,  proved  a  vigor- 
ous leader  in  the  work  of  erecting  the  new  edifice.  It  was  dedicated 
December  23,  1870,  when  Rev.  W.  F.  Warren,  D.  D.,  now  President 
of  Boston  University,  preached  the  sermon.  This  bare  outline  history 
of  the  buildings  successively  occupied  by  the  Methodists  of  East  Wey- 
mouth  speaks  volumes  as  to  the  growth,  the  vigor  and  the  courage 
of  the  Church,  and  the  faithfulness  of  the  pastors. 

Revival  seasons  of  great  power  have  marked  the  history  of  this 
church.  Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  one  of  these.  The  pas- 
torate of  H.  H.  Smith  is  memorable  for  an  extensive  revival,  in  which 
many  who  are  now  pillars  in  the  church  were  brought  into  its  fellow- 
ship. H.  D.  Robinson  saw  a  gracious  revival  in  his  time.  But  most 
notable  of  all  was  the  sweeping  revival  which  occurred  while  W.  V. 


68  SOUI'ENIK  HISTORY. 

Morrison  was  pastor,  adding  several  scores  of  active  members  to  the 
church,  a  general  revival,  in  which  the  Congregational  Church  was  en- 
gaged quite  as  much  as  the  Methodist.  Of  all  the  men  who  have  been 
stationed  in  East  Weymouth,  and  whose  work  has  passed  into  history, 
there  is  not  one  of  whom  it  may  not  be  truthfully  said,  "His  pastorate 
was  prosperous  and  his  labors  fruitful  of  good."  Among  them  all,  no 
one  endeared  himself  more  thoroughly  to  the  people  than  George  C. 
King,  who,  in  a  little  more  than  a  year,  acquired  so  strong  a  hold  upon 
them  that  when  he  suddenly  died  in  the  parsonage  on  a  summer  morn- 


WAL.DO  TURNER. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 

ing  in  1888,  every  one  in  the  church  and  the  community  felt  that  he 
had  lost  a  friend. 

The  commodious  and  comfortable  parsonage  was  built  during  Dr. 
Morrison's  pastorate. 

The  notable  laymen  who  have  been  members  of  this  church  would 
form  an  imposing  company.  To  mention  them  all  in  a  brief  sketch 
would  be  impossible.  To  name  some  and  omit  others  would  seem  in- 
vidious. Yet  it  ought  to  be  recorded  that  Leavitt  Bates,  who  was  a 
lay  delegate  from  the  New  England  Southern  Conference  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1888,  was  one  of  the  active  men  of  the  East  Wey- 
mouth Church;  and  that  in  the  "war  board"  of  selectmen,  whose  local 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


69 


fame  was  eminent,  East  Weymoutlr  s  representative  was  Zachariah  L. 
Bicknell,  a  stalwart  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School  for  twenty-four  years,  and  still  holds 
the  offices  of  Steward  and  Trustee.  There  are  two  women  who  are  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  continuous  relation  to  this  church,  Mrs.  Susan 
L.  Bates  and  Mrs.  Lucy  E.  French.  The  former  was  admitted  to  full 
membership  in  March,  1828,  and  the  latter  in  June  of  the  same  year. 

This  church  has  produced  one  itinerant  minister,  Rev.  Eben  Tir- 
rell,  who  is  a  prominent  and  highly  honored  member  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Southern  Conference.  And  from  this  church  went  out  another 
member  of  the  same  family  to  become  the  wife  of  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Bemis,  who  was  once  pastor  here  and  afterwards  a  member  of  the 


MRS.    SUSAN    L.    BATES. 
(Member  o£  Church  70  Tears.) 


MRS.  LUCY  E.  FRENCH. 
(Member  of  Church  70  Tears.) 


New  England  Conference.  Three  local  preachers,  who  were  con- 
nected with  this  church  some  sixty  years  ago,  earned  universal  esteem 
and  honored  the  church  by  their  efficient  labors.  They  were  James 
Bicknell,  George  Lincoln  and  Bela  L.  Pratt. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  church  provision  was  made  for  the 
proper  rendering  of  the  musical  parts  of  the  public  worship.  The 
"Wesleyan  Singing  Society"  was  organized  in  1826,  by  Mr.  Charles 
Bates,  who  was  its  conductor  for  many  years.  This  society  still  main- 
tains an  active  existence  and  is  the  choir  of  the  church.  Its  history  is 
replete  with  interest.  Its  worth  to  the  church  cannot  be  calculated. 
Its  membership  has  always  been  large.  More  than  one  hundred  per- 
sons are  now  living  who  have  belonged  to  it.  Its  members  now  num- 
ber twenty-five,  among  whom  are  several  accomplished  soloists.  The 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


oldest  surviving  member  is  Ebenezer  Tirrell,  whose  active  membership 
extended  from  1830  to  1883,  and  who  discharged  the  duties  of  choris- 
ter for  fifteen  years.  Charles  H.  Pratt  held  the  office  of  chorister  for 
twenty-three  years,  and  his  son,  William  H.  Pratt,  under  whose  direc- 
tion a  high  degree  of  proficiency  is  maintained,  is  in  the  eleventh  year 
of  continuous  service  in  the  same  position.  Beside  those  already  men- 
tioned, three  other  men  have  served  efficiently  as  chorister.  They  are 
Stephen  W.  Dyer.  Francis  R.  Bates  and  David  P.  Lincoln.  The  large 


WILLIAM   H.    PRATT. 
Chorister. 


MYRON   P.    FORD. 
Epworth   League   President. 


three-manual  organ,  noble  successor  of  one  which  was  burned,  and 
of  the  orchestra  which  was  used  in  earlier  days,  is  a  magnificent  in- 
strument built  by  Appleton  for  the  Hanover  Street  Church  in  Boston, 
and  acquired  by  this  church  by  purchase  at  auction  in  1870.  In  its 
dark  gothic  case  it  is  a  striking  architectural  feature  of  the  auditorium. 
Its  rich  historical  association  and  wealth  of  musical  resources  make  it 
exceptionally  fit  to  accompany  this  remarkable  choir. 


PASTORS. 

1822.          Aaron  D.  Sargent  1830. 

1823-24.     Stephen  Puffer  1831. 

Benjamin  Jones  1832. 

1824.          John  Adams  1833-34. 

Moses  Sanderson  1835-36. 

Le  Roy  Sunderland  1837. 

1825-26.     Samuel  Norris  1838. 

1827.  Jared  Perkins  1839. 

1828.  Zenas   Adams  1840. 

1829.  Thomas  W.  Tucker  1841. 


Le  Roy  Sunderland 
Darius  Barker 
George  Stone 
Lewis  Bates 
E.  W.  Stickney 
Benjamin  Lombard 
Epaphras  Kibby 
J.  S.  Springer 
Edward  A.  Lyon 
Joel  Steele 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1842. 

1843- 

1844-45. 

1846-47. 

1848-49. 

1850-51. 

I852-53- 
1854. 


1855-56. 
1857-58. 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-64. 


Bryan  Morse  1865-66. 

A.  G.  Bowles  1867-69. 

Henry  Mayo  1870-71. 

Lemuel  Harlow  1872-73. 

Henry  H.  Smith  1874-76. 

John  B.  Gould  1877-79. 

Charles  H.  Titus  1880-82. 
Andrew  H.  Robinson      1883-84. 

Daniel  Wise  1884. 

William  Ross  1885-86. 
Horatio  W.  Houghton   1887-88. 

Nathaniel  Bemis  1888-91. 

John  Cooper  1892-94. 

Samuel  C.  Brown  1895-97. 
John  Howson 


Henry  D.  Robinson 
William  V.  Morrison 
Francis  J.  Wagner 
Walter  Ela 
Samuel  L.  Gracey 
Edwin  D.  Hall 
Dudley  P.  Leavitt 
Samuel  J.  Carroll 
William  H.  Stetson 
Joshua  A.  L.  Rich 
George  C.  King 
Albert  A.  Kidder 
James  H.  MacDonald 
William  I.  Ward 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Class  Leaders — W.  H.  Pratt,  Waldo  Turner,  Benjamin  B.  Sylves- 
ter, George  W.  Dyer,  Leonard  W.  Cain. 

Trustees — Cyrus  Washburn,  Zachariah  L.  Bicknell,  Bela  French, 
Richard  V.  Merchant,  Joseph  A.  Gushing,  John  W.  Bates,  Leavitt  W. 
Bates,  William  H.  Pratt,  Waldo  Turner. 

Stewards — Bela  French,  Zachariah  L.  Bicknell,  Nathan  Good- 
speed,  Joseph  A.  Gushing,  Irving  M.  Norcross,  Francis  Pool,  Charles 
W.  Rice,  Leonard  W.  Cain,  John  W.  Bates,  Bela  P.  French,  George 
H.  Cunningham,  Owen  S.  Chandler,  Myron  P.  Ford. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Waldo  Turner;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, Leavitt  W.  Bates;  Secretary,  Robert  H.  McFawn;  Treas- 
urer, Charles  H.  Denbroeder;  Librarian,  John  A.  McFawn;  Assist- 
ant Librarian,  C.  Henry  Cudworth. 

Teachers — Leonard  W.  Cain,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Dyer,  Mrs.  Alice  A. 
Cunningham,  Charles  R.  Denbroeder,  Nathan  Goodspeed,  Mrs.  Eliza 
J.  Bicknell,  Mrs.  T.  B.  Nichols,  Mrs.  Nancie  M.  Ames,  Mrs.  Eunice 
G.  Smith,  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Bicknell,  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Bates,  Mrs.  Martha 
W.  Pratt,  Mrs.  Dora  L.  Gushing,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Pool,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
W.  Dunbar,  Miss  P.  Jennie  Bearse,  Miss  Grace  Pratt,  Miss  Hattie 
Hayes,  Myron  P.  Ford,  Miss  Nella  R.  Hayden,  Mrs.  Hannah  Spear, 
Miss  Mary  P.  Mathewson,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  R.  Hunt,  Mrs.  Annie  W. 
Pratt,  Mrs.  Ruth  L.  Harrington,  Mrs.  Marion  L.  Denbroeder. 

Primary  Department — Mrs.  Samira- Raymond,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Bearse. 

Epivorth  League — President,  Myron  P.  Ford;  Vice-Presidents — 
First,  Miss  Nella  R.  Hayden;  Second,  Miss  Mary  P.  Mathewson; 
Third,  Mrs.  Emma  L.  Ward;  Fourth,  Mrs.  Alice  A.  Cunningham;  Sec- 
retary, Mrs.  Marion  L.  Denbroeder;  Treasurer,  Walter  E.  Tirrell. 


PORTER   M.   E.   CHURCH.   LOVELL'S   CORNER,   EAST 
WEYMOUTH,  MASS. 


Porter  Church,  not  unlike  many  Methodist  churches  in  New 
England,  began  its  larval  life  as  an  undenominational  mission;  passed 
its  precarious  winter  as  a  Congregational  chrysalis ;  and,  in  the  spring, 
emerged  mature,  a  small  but  characteristic  species  of  the  genus  Metho- 
dist. 

The  first  stage  commenced  in  the  spring  of  1864,  when  six  women 
of  the  Corner  formed  a  "union  female  prayer  meeting."  These  per- 
sistent women  kept  up  their  weekly  meetings  for  nearly  three  years, 
when  Rev.  D.  W.  Waldron,  a  Congregationalist  of  Augusta,  Me., 


THE   PORTER  CHURCH. 


IRWIN   B.    HAWES. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


preached  his  first  sermon  here  in  October,  1866,  and  opened  the  mis- 
sion in  the  hall  over  the  corner  store. 

By  October,  a  year  later,  societies  among  the  women  and  young 
men  of  the  regular  congregation  were  formed,  the  hall  furnished  and 
the  mission  fairly  at  work.  Thus  it  continued  until  Mr.  Waldron  left 
in  1871.  Now  for  fifteen  months  its  preachers  were  sent  from  the  Con- 
gregational House,  Boston;  but  finding  this  plan  hazarding  the  inter- 
ests of  the  mission,  a  council  of  Weymouth  churches  was  called 
October  29,  1892,  and  the  "Puritan  Congregational  Church  of  Lovell's 
Corner"  was  organized,  with  Rev.  J.  C.  Halliday  as  pastor,  at  a  salary 
of  $1,000. 

So  began  the  second  stage. 

The  only  Methodist  lay  delegate  to  that  council  was  Mr.  Z.  L. 
Bicknell,  who  recently  said  to  the  present  pastor:  "I  wanted  a  Metho- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


73 


dist  church  at  the  Corner,  but  ,1  advocated  organizing  as  a  Congre- 
gational with  all  my  heart,  for  I  knew  they  would  begin  that  way  or 
not  begin  at  all.  I  saw  they  couldn't  support  another  Congregational 
church  so  near  the  other  two;  I  knew  that  system  wouldn't  support 


REV.  DALLAS  L.  SHARP. 


MRS.  GRACE  HASTINGS  SHARP. 


a  church  in  so  small  a  place  as  the  Corner,  so  I  went  in  for  Congre- 
gationalism as  the  surest  way  of  having  it  drop  into  the  big  lap  of 
Methodism,  and  it  did."  Moral ! 

Now  business  in  the  Corner  began  to  die.  Mr.  Halliday's  salary 
began  to  fall,  till  in  1877  he  was  forced  to  flee.  Things  ecclesiastical 
at  the  Corner  had  struck,  and  were  going  to  pieces.  There  was  just 
one  name  whereby  they  must  be  saved,  and  they  called  a  Methodist 
Presiding  Elder.  Dr.  W.  V.  Morrison  came,  and  the  third  and  last 
stage  of  the  church,  began. 

Rev.  Henry  P.  Haylett  was  sent  as  a  supply  until  April,  1879, 
when  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Weymouth  was  organized,  and  Mr.  Haylett 
became  its  first  pastor. 

In  1885  Rev.  Julian  S.  Wadsworth  came,  and  finding  plans  for  a 
new  church  ready  to  move,  put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  and,  with 
the  gift  of  a  lot  by  Mr.  Thomas  Holbrook,  a  $600  legacy  left  by  Miss 
Eunice  Porter  "for  the  building  of  the  first  Methodist  Church  in  South 
Weymouth,"  and  the  liberal  help  of  the  Corner  people,  the  Porter 
M.  E.  Church  was  dedicated  on  September  16,  1886. 

Since  that  day  the  church  has  slowly  but  steadily  "increased  in 
stature,"  and  we  trust  "in  favor  with  God  and  man." 


1878-79.     Henry  P.  Haylett 
1880.  C.  H.  Farnsworth 


PASTORS. 

1881-83. 
1884. 


E.  G.  Babcock 

F.  D.  Sargent 


74 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1885-87.     J.  S.  Wadsworth  1891-92.  E.  E.  Philltps 

1888.  S.  F.  Chase  1893-94.  W.  H.  Butler 

1889.  F.  L.  Brooks  1895.  C.  H.  Van  Natter 

1890.  G.  B.  M.  Rogers  1896-97.  D.  L.  Sharp 
Henry  Roissy 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Charles  Hawes,  Joseph  F.  Taylor,  George  F.  Maynard, 
Walter  W.  Pratt,  Frank  W.  Rea,  Charles  H.  Pratt,  Bradford  Hawes, 
T.  Austin  Poole,  Frank  H.  Tisdal. 

Stezvards — Mrs.  Caroline  Tirrell,  Mrs.  Jennie  C.  Lane,  Mrs. 
Abigail  Cobb,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Holbrook,  Mrs.  Augusta  M.  Poole,  Mrs. 
Jesephine  C.  Rea,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Hawes,  Mrs.  Catherine  S.  Pratt,  Mrs. 
Carrie  M.  Hunt,  Mrs.  Lucinda  Pratt,  Miss  Nellie  Holbrook  (R.  S.), 
Irwin  B.  Hawes  (D.  S.),  Charles  H.  Pratt. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Irving  B.  Hawes,  Librarian, 
Frank  N.  Blanchard;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Willie  Porter  Pratt. 

Teachers — Mrs.  C.  J.  Rea,  Frank  W.  Rea,  Mrs.  Charles  Hawes, 
Bradford  Hawes,  Miss  Jessie  E.  Stewart,  Mrs.  Dallas  L.  Sharp,  Mrs. 
Abigail  Cobb,  Miss  Nellie  Holbrook,  Miss  Emma  Rea,  Miss  Florence 
Pratt,  Mrs.  Bradford  Hawes. 

Epworth  League — President,  Frank  W.  Rea;  First  Vice-President, 
Frank  N.  Blanchard;  Second  Vice-President,  Nettie  M.  Holbrook; 
Third  Vice-President,  Juno  F.  Hutchins;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Emma  Rea;  Secretary,  Maria  E.  Hawes;  Treasurer,  Susan  H.  Hawes. 


M.    E.    CHURCH,    FOXBORO,    MASS. 

After  long  search,  a  gentleman, — Eugene  Shaw  by  name, — found 
employment  such  as  would  conduce  to  his  health  by  permitting  him 
to  be  much  in  the  open  air.  It  was  that  of  driving  a  coal  cart.  One 
cold,  windy  day,  while  delivering  coal  to  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Kelly,  a 
Methodist  minister  residing  at  South  Walpole,  he  was  invited  into  the 
house  to  warm  his  hands.  To  the  minister's  inquiry  as  to  where  he 
lived,  and  whether  he  attended  church,  he  replied  that  he  lived  at  Fox- 
boro,  but  had  not  been  in  the  habit  of  attending  any  church.  Mr. 
Kelly  then  invited  him  to  come  to  South  Walpole  and  hear  the  Gospel. 
He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  became  much  interested.  His  report 
of  the  services  led  certain  elect  ladies  of  Foxboro  to  frequent  the 
meetings,  and  in  time  the  attention  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kelly  was  directed  to 
this  new  field  waiting  for  the  Methodist  sickle. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  on  the  evening  of  February  20,  1893,  a 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


75 


band  of  eleven  persons  interested  in  Methodism  met  at  the  house  of 
George  M.  Barron,  on  Garfield  street,  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
holding  regular  class  meetings  in  Foxboro.  The  meeting  was  opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Kelly,  and  resulted  in  the  decision  to 


SAMARITAN  HALL,   (Interior.) 


hold  class  meetings  for  a  time,  and,  if  the  interest  should  warrant  the 
movement,  later  to  have  preaching  services.  On  the  following  week, 
the  evening  of  February  27,  the  first  class  meeting  was  held  at  the 


REV.  W.   S.   FOSTER. 


MRS.    ADDIE    J.    FOSTER. 


house  of  S.  H.  Clapp,  on  Rock  Hill  street.  Sixteen  persons  were 
present,  and  the  class  was  led  by  Mr.  Kelly.  March  6,  another  class 
meeting  was  held  at  the  same  place,  there  being  nineteen  present,  and 
led  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kelly. 

One  more  class  meeting  was  held — this  time  at  the  home  of  Mrs. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


W.  H.  Warren,  on  Main  street — and  then,  in  St.  Mark's  Hall,  on  Sun- 
day afternoon,  March  19,  1893,  the  people  gathered,  to  the  number  of 
about  one  hundred,  and  listened  while  Mr.  Kelly  preached  the  everlast- 
ing Gospel  from  I.  Peter  i,  8. 

From  that  dav  a  Methodist  church  in  Foxboro  was  an  assured 


GEORGE   R.    ELLIS. 


WILLIAM  A.    COOLIDGE. 


fact,  although  the  church,  as  such,  was  not  organized  until  July  31, 
1893.  At  the  time  of  organization  the  people  were  worshiping  in 
the  Universalist  Church  edifice,  whither  they  had  gone  when  St.  Mark's 
Hall  proved  too  small  for  the  congregation.  A  Sunday  school  was 
organized  October  I,  with  forty-two  members.  In  October,  1894, 
the  exclusive  use  of  Samaritan  Hall,  on  School  street,  was  secured, 

the  room  appropriately  arranged  for 
divine  service,  and  it  is  in  this  hall 
that  the  church  at  present  assembles. 
The  class  meeting — tap-root  of  every 
Methodist  church — has  from  the  start 
nourished  under  the  very  efficient 
leadership  of  Mr.  R.  W.  Heald.  Dis- 
couragements and  perplexing  prob- 
lems exist;  yet,  though  still  what 
might  be  called  a  "struggling 
church,"  it  looks  with  hopefulness  to 
future  days. 

Rev.   W.  J.   Kelly  continued  as 
pastor  until  the  end  of  his  South  Wai- 
pole  pastorate  in  April,  1894,  when  he 
B.  w.   HEALD.  was   succeeded   bv    Rev.    Charles   E. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


77 


Beals,  who  did  service  jointly  at  Foxboro  and  Mansfield.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  one  year  he  was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  O.  Randall,  who,  in 
turn,  after  two  years  of  effective  service,  was  followed  by  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  W.  S.  Foster. 

PASTORS. 

1893.  W.  J.  Kelly  1895-96.     J.  O.  Randall 

1894.  C.  E.  Beale  1897.          W.  S.  Foster 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

W.  A.  Coolidge,  F.  B.  Kingman,  R.  W.  Heald,  Alexander  Ross, 
G.  M.  Barren,  George  R.  Ellis,  Florence  Kingman,  Mrs.  R.  W.  Heald, 
May  Leighton,  Mrs.  N.  S.  Small,  S.  H.  Clapp,  N.  S.  Small,  A.  E. 
Hanscom,  R.  G.  Leighton,  George  C.  McGregor,  J.  W.  Alden,  James 
G.  Shaw. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  A.  Coolidge;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  George  R.  Ellis;  Secretary,  Chester  Patterson;  Treas- 
urer, May  H.  Leighton;  Librarian,  R.  G.  Leighton;  Assistant  Libra- 
rian, George  M.  Barron. 

Teachers — Mrs.  E.  J.  Ellis,  Miss  Edna  Small,  Miss  Florence  King- 
man,  Mrs.  Addie  J.  Foster,  Miss  Blanche  Bence,  Miss  Ada  Hayes, 
R.  W.  Heald,  W.  H.  Fletcher, 

Class  Leader— R.  W.  Heald. 

Epworth  League — President,  George  Ellis;  First  Vice-President, 
George  Brown;  Second  Vice-President,  Ada  Hayes;  Third  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  May  Leighton;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Louise  Smith;  Secre- 
tary, Edna  Small;  Treasurer,  Blanche  Bence. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HANOVER,  MASS. 

In  the  home  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Stetson,  parents  of  the  late  Rev. 
William  H.  Stetson,  the  Hanover  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  her 
genesis.  Mrs.  Stetson,  the  Barbara  Heck  of  the  society,  came  from 
old  Bennet  Street  Church,  Boston,  and  found  in  Captain  Zephaniah 
Talbot  an  aggressive  Christian.  By  their  untiring  labor  and  constant 
zeal  the  first  class  was  organized.  Prominent  among  those  who  la- 
bored in  this  germinal  class  were  John  Gardner,  Katie  and  Pattie  Syl- 
vester and  Lydia  Stetson. 

The  next  place  of  worship  was  the  schoolhouse,  to  which  the  first 
itinerant  preacher  came.  The  class  was  joined  in  turn  to  Scituate  and 
South  Abington  many  times.  Union  Hall  was  the  next  place  of  wor- 
ship. From  1844  to  1852  the  class  grew  strong  enough  to  erect  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


present  church  edifice.     Rev.  L.  B.  Bates  broke  the  ground  and  Rev. 
Nathan  P.  Philbrook  built  and  dedicated  the  church.    A  neat,  cheerful 


THE  HANOVER  CHURCH. 


vestry  was  added  to  the  building  in  1885  by  Mrs.  Betsey  B.  Tolman, 
at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 

The  growth  of  the  church  has  been  gradual  for  the  past  five  years, 


REV.  C.  H.  WILLIAMS. 


ALEXANDER  WEATHERBEE. 
Epworth   League  President. 


until  the  membership  has  reached  69.  The  Epworth  League  was  or- 
ganized in  1894,  and  has  been  very  active.  There  is  now  a  member- 
ship of  52. 

The  church  has  been  a  training  school  for  young  men.  Since 
the  day  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates  preached  his  first  sermon  here  many  young 
men  have,  served  the  church.  These  ministers  are  scattered  over  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


79 


United  States  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  some  of  them  are  in  foreign 
mission  work.  As  our  own  preachers,  we  claim  the  late  William  H. 
Stetson,  whose  early  life  was  spent  here  in  our  church,  and  who  proved 


MRS.    BETSEY    B.    TOLiMAN. 
(Oldest  Member,  88  Years.) 


MELVIN  LITTLE. 


such  an  efficient  worker  for  God,  and  the  late  John  W.  Willett,  who 
was  converted  here.  His  conversion  from  infidelity  was  only  less  re- 
markable than  his  long,  useful  ministry. 

The  church  is  alive;  the  outlook  is  encouraging. 


PASTORS. 

1844-45-.  Dixon  Stebbins  1870. 

1846.  Aaron  Adams 

1847-48.  E.  H.  Hatfield  1871-72. 

1849.  N.  P.  Philbrook  1873-74. 

1850.  John  Middleton  1875. 
Lewis  B.  Bates  1876. 

1851.  N.  B.  Philbrook  1877. 

1852.  S.  Puffer  1878. 
Joseph  Marsh  1879. 

l853-54-  George    H.    Winchester  1880. 

l855-56.  Lemuel  Harlow 

1857.  Samuel  Norris  1881-82. 

1858.  John  Spilstead  1883. 

1859.  L.  E.  Dunham  1884. 
1860-61.  Henry  Mayo  1885. 

1862.  Robert  Clark 

1863.  Lemuel  Harlow  1886. 

1864.  Lawton  Cady 

1865.  George  E.  Fuller  1887-89. 
1866-67.  Stephen  Y.  Wallis  1890. 
1868-69.  John  N.  Collier 


C.  A.  Carter 
George  H.  Lamson 
Edward  L.  Hyde 
E.  A.  Boyden 
W.  A.  Luce 
Richard  Povey 
W.  H.  Turkington 
E.  G.  Babcock 
C.  M.  Comstock 
Henry  P.  Haylett 
B.  K.  Bosworth 
I.  R.  Lovejoy 
J.  L.  Shively 
W.  F.  Lawford 
Henry  Swartz 
George  Coe 
E.  N.  Kirby 
Philip  Price 
H.  A.  Ridgeway 
Fred  Rounds 
Joseph  Waterman 


#0  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

1891.  C.  O.  Kepler  1^93-95-     Jerome  Greer 

1892.  J.  J.  Shingler  1896-97.     C.  H.  Williams 
C.  E.  De  LaMater 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — M.  Little,  F.  E.  Henderson,  Henry  Gardner,  Charles 
Hunt,  H.  J.  Tolman. 

Stewards — Henry  Gardner  (Rec.  S.),  John  Corthell  (Dist.  S.), 
Mrs.  Charlotte  Barnard,  Mrs.  Betsey  B.  Tolman,  Miss  Lydia  B. 
Greene,  Miss  Flora  M.  Barnard,  Alexander  Weatherbee,  Will  Apple- 
ford,  Charles  Pratt. 

Class  Leader — M.  Little. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  M.  Little;  Librarian,  W.  C.  Bar- 
nard; Secretary,  Alonzo  Whiting;  Organist,  Alice  Church;  Teachers, 
C.  S.  Dean,  Mrs.  Charlotte  Barnard,  F.  H.  Kidder,  Alexander  Wea- 
therbee, Mrs.  Alice  Barnard. 

Epworth  League — President,  Alexander  Weatherbee;  First  Vice- 
President,  F.  H.  Baker;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  F.  E.  Hender- 
son; Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Clarence  Barnard;  Secretary,  William 
Appleford. 

M.  E.   CHURCH,  HEBRONVILLE. 

Hebronville  Church  was  organized  April  4,  1875,  with  twenty- 
seven  members,  George  W.  Brewster,  Presiding  Elder,  John  Q. 
Adams,  preacher  in  charge;  George  Dean  and  Alfred  Chatterton,  class 
leaders. 

Stephen  A.  Knight,  agent  of  Hebronville  Mills  Company,  fur- 
nished a  hall,  an  organ,  fuel,  heating  and  lighting  facilities. 

Mr.  John  Kendrick  of  Providence  presented  the  church  with  a 
good  communion  service,  and  James  Davis  of  Pawtucket  with  a  good- 
ly number  of  Sunday  school  books. 

In  1877,  during  the  pastorate  of  John  H.  Sherman,  twenty-eight 
persons  united  with  the  church  on  probation;  while  in  1880,  under  the 
faithful  and  zealous  labors  of  G.  W.  Wright,  there  were  forty-seven 
additions  to  the  church. 

In  1881  C.  S.  Nutter  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  He  at  once 
felt  the  need  of  a  house  of  worship,  and  accordingly  began  to  take 
subscriptions  towards  this  end.  Four  thousand  dollars  was  soon  sub- 
scribed and  ground  was  broken  and  appropriate  services  held  October 
29,  1881. 

In  April,  1882,  Eben  Tirrell  was  appointed  to  this  charge.  He 
took  up  the  work  and  with  the  generous  aid  afforded  by  Mr.  Stephen 
A.  Knight  and  others,  living  without  the  bounds  of  charge,  completed 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


8l 


the  edifice.  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison,  D.  D.,  had  charge  of  the  dedica- 
tion services,  Rev.  Angelo  Canoll  preaching  the  sermon.  The  com- 
pleted church  was  valued  at  $10,000. 

Hebronville  has  suffered  greatly  through  the  "business  depres- 


THE   HEBRONVILLE   CHURCH. 


sion,"  and  while  to-day  the  church  is  financially  weak  writh  41  mem- 
bers, is  nobly  struggling  for  existence  with  prospects,  with  returning 
national  prosperity,  of  a  brighter  future. 


l875-          John  Q.  Adams 
1876-78.     John  H.  Sherman 


1879.  Robert  Clark 

1880.  G.  W.  Wright 

1881.  Charles  S.  Nutter 

1882.  E.  Tirrell 

1883.  S.  M.  Beale 
1884-85.  J.  Q.  Adams 


PASTORS. 

1886-87. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

1890-95. 

1896. 

1897. 


C.  N.  Hinckley 
F.  C.  Baker 
Edwin  F.  Jones 
William  H.  Starr 
William  B.  Heath 
F.  D.  Sargent 
O.  A.  Farley 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — Henry  Carpenter,  John  Carpenter,  Everett  Holbrook, 
Frank  Holbrook,  Charles  L.  Atwell,  Hugh  A.  Smith,  Byron  R.  Hill, 
Jerome  Patterson,  Sarah  Bowen,  Nettie  Atwell,  Eliza  Lamb,  Isabella 
L.  Ide,  Mrs.  Byron  R.  Hill. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  H.  Carpenter;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Hugh  A.  Smith;  Secretary,  Bell  L.  Ide;  Assistant 
Secretary,  Everett  Holbrook;  Treasurer,  Lizzie  Claflin;  Librarian, 
Everett  Holbrook;  Assistant  Librarian,  Bell  L.  Ide;  Organist,  Nettie 
Atwell. 

Teachers — Pastor,    Henry    Carpenter,    Hattie    Atwell,    John    H. 


g2  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

.Carpenter,  Willard  B.  Atwell,  Nettie  B.   Rounds,  Sarah  C.  Bowen, 
Cora  E.  Gross. 

Epworth  League  of  Christian  Endeavor — President,  F.  Everett 
.Holbrook;  Vice-President,  J.  H.  Carpenter;  Recording  Secretary, 
Ruth  M.  Blanchard;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Bell  L.  Ide;  Treas- 
urer, Nettie  Atwell;  Organist,  Nettie  Rounds. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HILL'S  GROVE,  R.  I. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Hill's  Grove  was  organized 
May  7, 1884,  in  the  schoolhouse  of  Hill's  Grove.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D., 
Presiding  Elder,  opened  the  service  with  prayer  and  preached  a  ser- 
mon on  "The  Work  of  the  Church."  The  following  were  elected 


THE  HILL'S  GROVE  CHURCH. 

trustees:  Isaac  Charles,  Benjamin  Gardner,  David  M.  Pierce,  David 
Alexander,  Andrew  J.  Allen,  William  G.  James,  Edwin  J.  Watts. 

Religious  meetings  were  held  here  for  several  years  prior  to  1884, 
and  were  chiefly  led  by  students  from  East  Greenwich ;  some  of  them 
preached  occasionally.  Professor  Albro  served  the  people  for  a  while, 
and  was  followed  by  Rev.  George  E.  Dunbar,  the  latter  being  the  first 
pastor  of  the  organized  church,  and  remaining  such  till  1886.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  William  H.  Stetson. 

Up  to  this  time,  and  during  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Stetson's  pastor- 
ate, religious  services  were  held  in  the  village  school  house.  But  dur- 
ing the  second  year  Mr.  Stetson  caused  to  be  erected  the  present 
church,  which  is  situated  in  the  most  desirable  part  of  the  village. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


This  work  he  superintended  with  marked  wisdom  and  untiring  zeal, 
and  revealed  himself  to  be  just  the  man  for  the  task  on  hand.  What- 
ever he  undertook  to  do  was  done  well;  consequently  this  church  is 
of  fine  architecture,  best  material,  well  made,  and  excellent  furnish- 
ings. No  pews  can  be  found  better  arranged  and  more  comfortable 
to  the  occupants;  all  of  them  are  cushioned  alike. 

The  lot  was  given  by  the  late  Thomas  J.  Hill,  and  is  valued  at 
$600.  The  "Elizabeth  Mills  Co.,"  of  which  he  was  the  principal 
owner,  gave  $3,000  for  the  building  of  the  church.  Mrs.  Thomas  J. 
Hill  gave  liberally  for  the  church  furnishings,  and  so  did  others  out- 
side of  the  parish.  Mr.  John  A.  Whipple  of  Connecticut,  a  stranger 


MRS.   G.   H.    BUTLER. 


REV.   G.  H.    BUTL.ER. 


to  all  connected  with  the  church,  hearing  of  the  enterprise,  sent  $100, 
saying  he  wished  to  have  a  part  in  furnishing  the  church.  The  entire 
cost  of  lot,  church  and  furnishings  was  about  $8,000. 

Mr.  Stetson  remained  another  year  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  labors. 
He  was  followed,  1889,  by  Rev.  Alexander  Anderson,  who  greatly  en- 
deared himself  to  the  people  by  his  labors  of  love.  In  the  spring  of 
1892  Rev.  H.  A.  Ridgway  was  appointed  in  his  place  to  serve  the 
church,  and  remained  three  years,  rendering  the  people  excellent 
service.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  George  H.  Butler,  who  is  at  this 
writing,  1897,  the  pastor  of  the  church. 

During  the  fall  of  1895  a  bell,  costing  about  $150,  was  purchased 
for  the  church;  and  in  the  early  spring  of  1897  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  G. 
James,  officials  of  the  church,  donated  the  church  a  beautiful  and  costly 
chandelier  and  several  fine  wall  lamps.  These  were  greatly  needed 
and  are  much  prized. 


84 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


The  church  fronts  a  street  of  two  rows  of  magnificent  maple  trees, 
which  are  the  admiration  of  all  visitors.  There  is  no  parsonage,  but 
a  fine  house  adjacent  to  the  church  is  used  as  such,  and  is  well  fur- 
nished. 

The  Ep worth  League  was  organized  September  19,  1892. 


GEORGE    L.    WESTCOTT. 
Epworth   League   President. 


CLARENCE   ARNOLD. 
Ex-Epworth  League  Pres. 


PASTORS. 


1884-85.  G.  E.  Dunbar 
1886-88.  W.  H.  Stetson 
1889-91.  Alex.  Anderson 


1892-94.     H.  A.   Ridgway 
^95-97-     G.  H.  Butler 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Andrew  J.  Allen,  President;  William  G.  James,  Treas- 
urer; George  L.  Westcott,  Secretary;  Benjamin  C.  Sweet,  Richard 
Bell,  Frank  H.  Westcott,  Mary  McGhee,  Jennie  M.  Kent,  Laura  E. 
Arnold. 

Stewards— George  L.  Westcott  (R.  S.),  Richard  Bell  (D.  S.), 
Celia  R.  James,  Abby  E.  Allen,  Mary  McGhee,  Nellie  L.  Quimby, 
Mabel  E.  Sweet,  Albert  T.  Farnum. 

Sunday  School — Rev.  George  H.  Butler,  Superintendent;  George 
L.  Westcott,  Assistant  Superintendent;  Mynie  Budlong,  Secretary; 
Alpheus  Place,  Treasurer;  Emma  F.  Butler,  Chorister;  Mabel  Jenkins, 
Pianist;  John  Place,  Librarian.  Teachers — Mrs.  G.  H.  Butler,  Mary 
McGhee,  Jennie  Kent,  Mabel  Sweet,  Nellie  L.  Quimby,  Stella  Jor- 
den,  Celia  R.  James,  Ida  Smith,  G.  H.  Butler. 

Epworth  League — G.  L.  Westcott,  President;  First  Vice- 
President,  Jennie  M.  Kent;  Second  Vice-President,  Mary  McGhee; 
Third  Yice-President,  Ethel  Jenkins;  Fourth  Vice-President.  Mabel 
Jenkins;  Treasurer  and  Secretary,  Nellie  L.  Quimby. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


So  faithfully  and  with  such  marked  ability  has  G.  L.  Westcott  for 
many  years  attended  to  the  work  of  Recording-  Steward  that  several 
Presiding  Elders  of  the  district  have  said  that  he  was  unsurpassed  on 
the  district  in  the  work  of  his  office. 


M.   E.  CHURCH,  HINGHAM,  MASS. 

This  church  was  originally  included  in  what  was  called  the  Scitu- 
ate  Circuit,  from  1807  to  1826.  After  that,  for  two  years,  it  was  in- 
cluded in  Weymouth  Circuit.  In 
1828  it  became  a  separate  society. 
As  early  as -1807  Hingham  was  visit- 
ed by  a  Methodist  minister  by  the 
name  of  Thomas  Asbury,  a  cousin  of 
Bishop  Francis  Asbury,  the  first  or- 
dained in  America.  In  1809  Moses 
Tower  of  Hingham  married  Mary 
Binney  of  Hull,  who  was  a  Methodist. 
For  several  years  their  house  and  that 
of  Robert  Goold  were  opened  to  the 
meetings  of  the  society.  After  the 
erection  of  the  church  in  Cohasset  the 
Hingham  Methodists  attended  meet- 
ings there  for  several  years.  Some  of 
the  first  preachers  of  this  denomina- 
£J  tion  in  Hingham  were  Thomas  As- 
bury, George  Pickering,  John  Brodhead,  J.  Snelling,  Joseph  A.  Mer- 
rill, Benjamin  F.  Lambord,  Stephen  Bailey,  Edward  Hyde,  A.  Lum- 
mis,  Richard  Emory,  a  distant  relative  of  Bishop  John  Emory, 
Emorv  Bradbury  Clay,  Bar- 
tholomew Otheman,  O.  Rob- 
erts, B.  Hazleton,  Jotham 
Horton,  Isaac  Jennison, 
Frederick  Upham,  A.  D. 
Sargent,  Stephen  Puffer,  B. 
Jones,  John  Adams,  Moses 
Sanderson,  L.  R.  Suther- 
land, Samuel  Xorris  and  Ja- 
red  Perkins. 

The      first      class      was 
formed     in     1818    bv    Rev. 

—..  THK     HINGHAM     PARSONAGR. 

Edward   T.    Taylor   (Father 

Taylor).      The     following    towns     were  embraced     in     the     Scituate 


THE    HINGHAM   CHURCH. 


86 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Circuit,  which  was  his  first  charge:  Scituate,  Hingham,  Cohasset, 
Hull,  Marshfield,  Duxbury,  Plympton,  Hanson,  Pembroke,  Wey- 
mouth,  Quincy  and  Dorchester.  The  class  formed  in  Hingham  con- 
sisted of  seven  members,  whose  names  were  as  follows :  Robert  Goold, 
Mary  Goold,  George  Lincoln,  Abigail  Goold  Tower,  Jane  Goold, 
Mary  G.  Pratt  and  T.  Wilder. 

In  1828  Rev.  Stephen  Puffer,  a  local  preacher,  erected  a  house  of 
worship,  at  a  cost  of  $1,820.  This  church  was  dedicated  July  3,  1828, 
and  the  pews  sold  to  compensate  Mr.  Puffer.  From  this  time  Hing- 
ham became  a  station.  Then  the  New  England  Conference  embraced 
all  the  New  England  States.  Afterwards  a  division  was  made,  and 


REV.    W.   J.   HAMBLETON. 


MRS.    W.     J.     BAMBLETON. 


Hingham  was  included  in  the  Providence  Conference.  Later,  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  New  England  Southern  Conference. 

The  church  was  remodeled  and  repaired  in  the  year  1845,  a^so 
1867,  when  it  was  moved  toward  the  rear  of  the  lot.  At  this  time  a 
spire  was  placed  on  the  front.  In  1882  the  church  was  moved  to  the 
opposite  side  of  North  street,  where  it  now  stands.  In  the  year  1883 
Mrs.  Puffer,  the  widow  of  Rev.  Stephen  Puffer,  who  preached  as  a 
supply  during  the  year  1832,  gave  the  society  $1,000,  by  which  a 
parsonage  was  built. 

Rev.  W.  J.  Hambleton,  the  present  pastor,  is  on  his  fifth  year. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  New  England  Conference.  He  came  to  Hing- 
ham four  years  ago,  on  account  of  his  wife's  health,  and  has  supplied 
the  church  since  coming. 

The  church  could  never  boast  of  wealth  or  numbers,  but  has 
zealously  "contended  for  the  faith  that  was  once  delivered  to  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


saints."    Many  have  been  converted  at  her  altars,  who  have  gone  out 
to  join  other  churches,  and  not  a  few  have  gone  to  Heaven.     Seven 


DR.    C.   H.   HARDY. 


L.    W.   SOUTHER. 


young  ladies  once   members  have  married  ministers.     Both  church 
and  parsonage  are  free  from  debt. 


MRS.     SALKLE    PUFFER. 

1828.  Samuel  Heath 
Nathan  Spaulding 

1829.  Selah  Stocking 
^830.           C.  Richardson 


PASTORS. 

1831. 
1832. 

i&33- 
1834. 

1835- 
1836. 

1837- 

1838. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842. 

1843-44. 

1845- 

1 846-47. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

I852-53- 

1854. 

1855- 
1856. 


A.  U.  Swinerton 
Stephen  Puffer 
R.  W.  Allen 
P.  W.  Nichols 
A.  Hale 

George  W.  Bates 
Daniel  Wise 
James  Mudge 
Daniel    McGear 
Robert  Gould 
William   Davenport 
A.  Gardner 
L.  Daggett 
S.   S.   Cook 
George  W.  Rogers 
A.  H.  Newton 
Thomas  Spilstead 
J.  Burley  Hunt 
S.  Beedle 

E.  F.  Hincks 
Daniel  Webb 

F.  A.  Loomis 
Paul   Townsend 
L.  Leffingwell 


88 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1857. 

1858-59. 

1 860-6 1. 

1862. 

1863-65. 

1866-68. 

1869-71. 

1872-73. 

18/4-75- 

1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 


Amos  Binney  1880. 

F.  A.  Loomis  1881. 

Robert  Clark  1882. 

E.  B.  Hinckley  1883. 

William  H.  Starr  1884. 

George  E.  Fuller  1885. 

Merritt  P.  Alderman  1886. 

J.  H.  Nutting  1887. 

Charles    Hammond  1888-89. 

J.   O.   Thompson  1890. 

Miss  Annie  H.  Shaw  i8gi-92. 

Charles  M.  Comstock  1893-97. 
George  H.   Huffman 


H.  M.  Cole 
W.  W.  Hall 

A.  Canoll 

W.  F.  Lawford 
Arthur  Thompson 
W.  D.  Woodward 

B.  F.  Jackson 
George  B.  Norton 
J.  H.  Newland 

S.  F.  Johnson 
F.  G.  Babcock 
W.  J.  Hambleton 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — O.  B.  Sears,  L.  D.  J.  Sears,  John  M.  Tower,  L.  Griggs, 
C.  H.  Hardy,  A.  Rich,  H.  Inman,  Winthrop  Lincoln,  George  W.  Cobb. 

Stewards — O.  B.  Sears,  J.  M.  Tower,  M.  D.  Dunbar,  Miss  Mary 
B.  Cazneau,  Mrs.  Ella  A.  Sears,  L.  W.  Souther,  T.  G.  Leigh,  L. 
Griggs,  Charles  Lincoln. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Dr.  C.  H.  Hardy;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, L.  W.  Souther;  Secretary,  Thirza  Griggs;  Treasurer, 
Howard  Inman. 

Epworth  League — President,  L.  W.  Souther;  Secretary,  Miss 
Mamie  Sears. 

Junior  League — President,  Mrs.  S.  D.  Hambleton. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HOLRROOK,  MASS. 


In  July,  1878,  the  Methodists  of  Holbrook,  having  no  church  of 
that  denomination  in  the  town,  met  together  to  consider  the  matter. 
On  Wednesday,  July  31,  1878,  the  first  class  meeting  was  held,  about 
twelve  persons  being  present.  Mr.  Lewis  Alden  was  chosen  class 
leader.  These  meetings  were  continued  with  profit  until  October 
following,  when  a  prayer  meeting  was  formed  also.  This  was  held 
at  the  home  of  Joseph  W.  Thayer,  twenty-two  persons  being  present. 
These  prayer-meetings  were  greatly  helped  by  the  presence  of  Rev. 
E.  M.  Taylor  and  friends  from  the  M.  E.  Church  of  South  Braintree. 
From  fifty  to  seventy-five  were  present  on  pleasant  evenings.  On 
February  n,  1879,  Rgv-  ^-  A.  Whedon  organized  the  Holbrook 
M.  E.  Church,  consisting  of  seven  members  and  two  probationers. 
Library  Hall  was  secured  as  a  place  of  meeting  and  the  action  of  the 
Providence  Conference  in  April  was  awaited  with  interest.  Rev. 


SOUl/ENIR  HISTORY. 


89 


C.  M.  Comstock  was  sent  by  the  Presiding  Elder  to  hold  the  first 
service  April  27,  1879.  Rev-  B-  L.  Duckwall  supplied  for  the  next 
two  weeks.  The  Sunday  School  was  instituted  on  May  n,  1879,  and 
numbered  fifty-two-,  Lewis  Alden  being  the  superintendent  chosen. 
The  first  Quarterly  Conference,  held  May  n,  1879,  was  presided  over 
by  Rev.  J.  W.  Willett. 

On  May  18,  Rev.  D.  C.  Stevenson  entered  upon  his  labors  here 
and  continued  until  September  7,  1879.  Rev.  A.  M.  Osgood,  W.  C. 
Kelt  and  Nelson  Edwards  finished  the  conference  year.  Having  pur- 
chased an  organ  and  a  library  of 
two  hundred  volumes,  the  society 
was  now  on  the  way  to  prosperity. 
Rev.  Elisha  M.  Dunham  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  charge  by  the  next 
conferencee,  and  arrived  Saturday, 
April  17,  1880.  He  was  given  a 
warm  reception,  for  on  this  day 
Library  Hall  building  was  burned 
to  the  ground.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  the  contribution  boxes  and 
a  few  hymnals,  and  the  library 
books  in  the  hands  of  the  scholars, 
the  property  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
was  lost.  Having  the  ability  to 
"take  the  collection  and  sing,"  the 
Town  Hall  was  secured  as  a  place 
of  worship  for  eight  succeeding 
Sundays,  but  being  too  large,  the 
committee  rooms  were  secured.  Mr. 
Dunham  resigned  his  pastorate 
October  7,  1880,  on  account  of  his 

wife's  illness,  and  the  church  for  the  rest  of  the  year  was  served  by 
H.  P.  Haylet,  E.  B.  Bancroft  and  W.  C.  Endley,  students  of  Boston 
University.  During  this  year  money  was  raised  for  a  lot,  and  it  was 
purchased.  Rev.  F.  J.  Ward  served  the  charge  for  three  months  and 
then  Howard  E.  Cooke  took  up  the  work.  During  his  pastorate  the 
present  house  of  worship  was  erected,  the  plan  and  specifications  be- 
ing furnished  by  the  pastor.  The  society  received  help  from  the  citi- 
zens of  the  town  who  worshiped  elsewhere,  and  from  friends  in 
Brockton,  who  were  very  liberal  to  the  new  enterprise.  Among  these 
latter  was  Philip  Reynolds,  to  whom  the  society  is  largely  indebted 
for  financial  aid. 


LEWIS    ALDEN. 
1st  Class  Leader  and  1st  S.  S.  Supt. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


The  dedication  took  place  February  8,  1882,  and  to  the  surprise 
of  many  over  seventeen  hundred  dollars  were  pledged  under  the 
solicitations  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  D.  D.,  then  of  Boston.  Rev. 
M.  J.  Talbot,  the  Presiding  Elder,  had  charge  of  the  services.  Dr. 
Hamilton  preached  the  morning  sermon,  and  Rev.  J.  O.  Knowles  in 
the  evening. 

During  the  year  1883  the  church  at  West  Abington  was  joined 
with  this  charge,  and  so  remained  until  the  spring  of  1885.  Soon 
after  the  dedication  of  the  new  church  a  revival,  during  which  many 
who  are  now  workers  in  the  Master's  cause  were  converted,  was  car- 


WILLIAM  B.  CROCKER. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


THE  HOLBROOK  CHURCH. 


ried  on.  Another  class  was  formed  September  29,  1883,  with  William 
B.  Crocker  as  leader.  These  two  leaders  continue  to  the  present. 

Rev.  George  E.  Brightman  was  next  appointed  to  this  charge,  in 
1884,  and  continued  two  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  W. 
Goodier,  who  did  permanent  work  for  the  church. 

Rev.  S.  T.  Patterson  followed,  and  was  called  upon  to  part  with 
his  wife  while  serving  this  charge.  J.  H.  Buckey  was  the  next  pastor 
to  carry  on  the  Lord's  work  in  this  place.  J:  N.  Geisler  succeeded, 
and  while  here  he  "passed  through  deep  waters,"  his  wife  called  away 
from  his  side  to  a  better  home  above.  In  April,  1895,  Frederick  W. 
Coleman  was  appointed  to  the  charge,  which  he  served  two  years. 

PASTORS. 
18/9.     D.  C.  Stevenson,  A.  M.  Osgood,  W.  C.  Holt,  Nelson  Edwards. 

1880.  E.  M.  Dunham,  H.  P.  Haylett,  E.  B.  Bancroft,  W.  C.  Enclley. 

1881.  F.  J.  Ward  1889-90.     S.  T.  Patterson 

H.  E.  Cook  1891-92. 

1882-83.     H.  E.  Cook  1893-94. 

1884-85.     G.  E.  Brightman  1895-96. 

1886-88.     E.  W.  Goodier  1897. 


J.  H.  Buckey 

J.  N.  Geisler 
F.  W.  Coleman 
W.  H.  Allen 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  91 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— W.  B.  Crocker,  Fred  Smith,  C.  C.  Webster,  Dr.  C.  W. 
Clark,  F.  E.  Wilde,  George  E.  Yahnig,  F. -C.  Townsend,  John  Stanley. 

Stewards — Lewis  Alden,  S.  W.  Schofield,  W.  B.  Crocker,  C.  C. 
Webster,  Dr.  C.  W.  Clark,  F.  Z.  Phillips,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Nickerson,  Nelson 
Belcher,  Mrs.  E.  Henderson. 

Class  Leaders — Mr.  Lewis  Alden  and  Mr.  W.  B.  Crocker. 

Sunday  School — W.  B.  Crocker,  Superintendent;  Miss  Exine 
Richardson,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Miss  Ella  Phillips,  Irving  Dyer, 
Librarians. 

Teachers — Mrs.  J.  E.  Nickerson,  Nelson  Belcher,  Mrs.  Lewis 
Alden,  Mrs.  George  E.  Yahnig,  Miss  Mabel  Alden,  Mr.  Lewis  Alden, 
Mrs.  F.  Z.  Phillips. 

Primary  Class — Miss  Susan  Armstrong. 

Epworth  League — Miss  Mabel  Alden,  President;  Mr.  Fred  Smith, 
Secretary. 

Junior  League — Ethel  Dyer,  President;  Lizzie  Stanley,  Secretary. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HOPE,  R.  I. 

Near  the  Hope  Company's  mill  there  still  stands  an  old  building 
which   is   intimately  associated   with    the    early    religious   history    of 


THE    HOPE    CHURCH. 


E.    P.    EMMONS. 
Sunday   School  Superintendent. 
Epworth   League   President. 


the  village.  In  this  building  there  is  a  room  known  as  the  old  "picker 
room."  This  was  used  in  the  old  days  for  gatherings  of  all  kinds, 
being  the  only  hall  in  the  village.  Here  about  1843  was  organized 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


the  Sunday  school,  which  has  continued  to  flourish  from  that  time  to 
the  present. 

Mr.  Samuel  G.  Allen  became  superintendent  of  the  mill  about 
the  date  mentioned  and  his  religious  influence  was  strongly  felt  dur- 
ing the  many  years  he  spent  in  that  position.  He  early  united  with 
the  Phoenix  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  1850  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  class  leader  at  Hope,  the  members  of  his  class  being  also 
members  of  Phoenix  charge.  The  pastors  of  the  Phoenix  Church  used 
to  preach  in  the  old  "picker  room"  occasionally  in  those  days  (1844- 
1870). 

In  the  spring  of  1871  we  have  a  record  that  Dr.  M.  J.  Talbot,  Pre- 
siding Elder  of  Providence  District,  met  with  the  Evangelical  Church 


REV.    K.    S.    HAMMOND. 


MKS.    E.    S.    HAMMOND. 


of  South  Scituate  (a  few  miles  from  Hope)  and  in  accordance  with 
their  request  organized  them  into  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
same  season  Rev.  John  Q.  Adams  was  appointed  pastor  of  that 
church,  and  with  this  appointment  the  history  of  Hope  M.  E.  Church 
practically  begins.  Mr.  Adams  did  not  find  the  work  at  South  Scituate 
sufficiently  promising  to  justify  the  employment  of  all  his  time  in  that 
locality,  so  he  organized  a  circuit,  and  in  his  third  year  he  reports  that 
he  preached  once  a  month  at  Hope  Village,  "where  I  have  a  very  good 
congregation  and  attentive  hearers." 

At  the  Conference  of  1874  the  appointment  reads:  "South 
Scituate  and  Hope,  F.  D.  Goodrich."  Mr.  Goodrich  lived  in  Hope, 
and  the  records  indicate  that  he  organized  the  Hope  Methodist  Church. 
William  Kirkby  was  appointed  in  1875  to  these  same  two  places,  but 
the  order  of  the  names  was  reversed,  and  the  charge  known  as  "Hope 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  93 

and  South  Scituate,"  another  indication  of  Hope's  growing  import- 
ance. 

At  the  very  beginning  of  this  pastorate  occurred  an  event  of 
great  significance  for  this  church.  On  May  i3th,  1875,  was  dedicated 
the  church  edifice  which  is  still  occupied.  This  building  was  erected 
by  the  Hope  Company  and  is  still  owned  by  them,  but  they  furnish 
it  free  of  charge,  and  have  from  the  beginning  provided  fuel,  lights 
and  janitor  without  cost  to  the  society.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Kirkby's 
pastorate  of  two  years  it  was  not  thought  advisable  to  continue  the 
work  at  South  Scituate,  and  so  Hope  was  joined  to  Washington  for 
the  next  twelve  years  (1877-89).  In  1889  Hope  wished  for  a  separate 
pastor,  and  Dr.  W.  V.  Morrison  supplied  the  church  for  a  year;  and 
since  that  time  Hope  has  been  a  station  by  itself,  excepting  three 
months  in  1891-92,  when  F.  H.  Spear  of  Washington  filled  out  D.  L. 
Brown's  unexpired  term.  There  have  been  revivals  in  these  years  of 
history,  notably  in  the  pastorates  of  Messrs.  Kirkby,  Hamlen,  Hinck- 
ley,  Baker  and  Kelly,  but  with  the  change  of  population  incident  to 
a  manufacturing  community,  few  are  left  of  the  many  converted  here. 
Three  ministers  have  gone  out  from  this  church:  J.  H.  McDonald  of 
our  own  conference,  William  C.  Townsend  of  the  New  England  Con- 
ference, and  Walter  Green  of  the  Six-Principle  Baptist  Church.  There 
is  now  a  membership  including  probationers  of  forty-seven. 

The  Sunday  school  is  very  flourishing.  When  the  present  Super- 
intendent, Mr.  E.  P.  Emmons,  completes  this  year,  he  will  have  occu- 
pied that  position  for  twenty-two  years.  There  are  about  a  hundred 
and  forty  members,  with  an  average  attendance  of  seventy-five. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  September  18,  1894,  during 
the  successful  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  J.  Kelly.  It  is  well  officered  and  is 
a  small  but  choice  group  of  young  people.  The  present  enrollment 
is  forty-three. 

During  the  present  year  a  most  gracious  revival  has  blessed  the 
church.  About  thirty  were  added  to  the  church. 

PASTORS. 

:873-  J-  Q-  Adams  1888.  A.    Anderson 

1874.  F.  D.  Goodrich  1889.  W.  V.  Mowison 

1 875-76.  William  Kirkby  1890.  H.  D.  Adams 

1877-78.  Z.  S.  Haynes  1891.  D.   L.   Brown 

1879-80.  C.   S.  Morse  F.  H.  Spear 

1881-82.  G.  M.  Hamlen  1892-93.  Merrick   Ransom 

1883-85.  C.    N.   Hinckley  1894-95.  W.  J.  Kelly 

1886-87.  F.  C.  Baker  1896.  E.  S.  Hammond 


94 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 
PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Stewards — Richard  G.  Rowland  (R.  S.),  Edwin  P.  Emmons 
D.  S.),  A.  Lowell  Johnson,  William  H.  Latham,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Johnson, 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Latham,  Mrs.  Byron  Brown,  Mrs.  Welcome  Potter,  Miss 
Sarah  Carr. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  E.  P.  Emmons;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, John  H.  Clarke;  Treasurer,  R.  G.  Rowland;  Secretary, 
Stella  Colvin;  Librarian,  Arthur  Johnson ;  Organist,  Annie  Emmons. 

Teachers — E.  S.  Hammond,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Latham,  E.  P.  Emmons, 
Mrs.  A.  L.  Johnson,  Mrs.  E.  P.  Emmons,  Lena  Knight,  John  H. 
Clarke,  Mrs.  Byron  Brown,  M.  Ethel  Latham,  Sarah  Carr,  Mabel 
Latham,  Edith  Bates. 

Epworth  League — Benton,  No.  13,419:  President,  E.  P.  Emmons; 
First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Byron  Brown;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
William  H.  Latham;  Third  Vice-President,  John  H.  Clarke;  Fourth 
Vice-President,  Sarah  Rawlinson;  Secretary,  M.  Ethel  Latham;  Treas- 
urer, Stella  Colvin. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HOPE  VALLEY,  R.  I. 

About  the  year  1830  a  local  preacher  by  the  name  of  Sturdevant, 
a  school  teacher  in  Hope  Valley,  organized  a  class  at  Gideon  Palmer's 


THE  HOPE  VALLEY  CHURCH. 

home.  But  very  little  was  accomplished  for  some  years;  the  seed  was 
watered  by  passing  itinerants,  however,  until  it  matured  in  1845  into 
the  little  branch  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  which  has  strug- 
gled for  existence  in  the  town  of  Hopkinton  for  more  than  fifty  years. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


95 


A  little  church  was  built  at  the  village  of  Rockville,  and  was  subse- 
quently removed  to  Hope  Valley  about  the  year  1851,  when  Rev. 
Stanton  Austin  was  pastor.  A  brief  notice  of  Rev.  Mr.  Austin,  who 
served  the  church  faithfully  for  more  than  thirty  consecutive  years, 
will  not  be  out  of  place.  He  was  born  in  1812;  he  was  converted, 
baptized,  and  joined  the  church  when  quite  young.  He  received  an 
exhorter's  license  from  Presiding  Elder  R.  W.  Allen,  and  a  local 
preacher's  license  from  Rev.  Sanford  Benton.  He  was  ordained  a  local 
deacon  by  Bishop  Baker  in  1856,  and  local  elder  in  1861,  at  the  hands 
of  Bishop  Simpson.  He  died  in  July,  1896. 

After  the  long  and  faithful  pastorate  of  Mr.  Austin,  which  came  to 
an  end  in  1886,  the  church  was  closed  almost  a  year,  when  O.  W.  Scott 


REV.  C.   B.   BROMLEY. 


MRS.    C.    B.    BROMLEY. 


was  sent  by  the  Presiding  Elder  to  work  up  a  new  interest  in  the 
nearly  defunct  cause.  The  result  of  these  special  efforts  was  seen  in 
the  re-opening  of  the  church  and  the  appointment  of  Rev.  W.  D. 
Woodward  to  the  pastorate  for  three  successive  years.  The  church 
was  revived,  and,  after  much  needed  repairs,  it  became  a  neat  edifice. 
It  is  situated  between  two  beautiful  villages,  Hope  Valley  and  Wyo- 
ming. 

After  a  pleasant  pastorate  from  1887  to  1890,  the  Conference 
wheel  turned  Mr.  Woodward  out  and  J.  H.  Baker  in,  for  a  two  years' 
pastorate.  The  cause  seems  again  to  have  suffered,  and  shortly  after 
the  Conference  of  1893  the  church  was  again  closed,  and  it  remained 
closed  about  three  years. 

In  the  winter  of  1895,  through  the  earnest  efforts  of  a  faithful  few, 
interest  in  the  again  almost  defunct  cause  was  aroused,  and  worship 


(j6  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

was  renewed  in  the  little  church  by  students  from  East  Greenwich 
Academy,  one  of  them  being  ].  O.  Rutter,  who,  at  the  order  of  Pre- 
siding Elder  S.  O.  Benton,  came  to  take  charge  of  the  Hope  Valley 
Church  in  July,  1895.  The  Sunday  school  was  revived  and  all  the 
departments  of  the  church  are  and  have  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
work  of  building  up  the  society.  The  result  of  this  has  been  that  at 
the  present  time  the  Sunday  school  is  about  as  large  as  at  any  period 
in  the  history  of  the  local  church.  From  a  membership  of  twenty- 
three  the  church  has  advanced  to  thirty-nine,  with  eight  persons  on 
probation,  notwithstanding  that  three  deaths  have  taken  place  during 
the  past  year. 

A  band  of  Crusaders  worked  with  the  pastor  for  five  weeks  in 
1895.  Chapter  15,509  of  the  Epworth  League  was  organized  during 
the  pastorate  of  J.  O.  Rutter.  Rev.  C.  B.  Bromley  is  the  present  pas- 
tor. 

PASTORS. 

1851-86.  Stanton   Austin  1893-94.  No  Pastor 

1887-89.  W.  D.  Woodward  1895-96.  J.  O.  Rutter 

1890-91.  J.  H.  Baker  l&97-  C.  B.  Bromley 

1892.  William    Turkington 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — L.  M.  Barber,  James  E.  Larkin,  John  A.  Crandall,  E.  T. 
Spencer,  Ransom  Burdick,  S.  A.  Nichols,  John  Gill,  Edwin  Boss. 

Stewards — S.  A.  Nichols,  L.  M.  Barber,  J.  E.  Larkin,  E.  T. 
Spencer,  E.  Boss,  Richard  Shepherd,  James  Prince,  John  Gill,  J.  A. 
Crandall,  G.  Wright,  B.  Newton. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  E.  T.  Spencer;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, S.  A.  Nichols;  Secretary,  Miss  Nettie  Spencer;  Librarian, 
Mrs.  Richard  Shepherd. 

Teachers — L.  M.  Barber,  Miss  Carrie  Boss,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Nichols, 
C.  B.  Bromley,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Bromley. 

Epworth  League — President,  the  Pastor;  First  Vice-President, 
R.  J.  Newton;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  J.  O.  Rutter;  Third  Vice- 
President,  George  Wright;  Fourth  Vice-President,  James  Prince; 
Secretary,  Mrs.  Richard  Shepherd;  Treasurer,  Richard  Shepherd. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  HULL,  MASS. 


Hull  was  settled  very  early  by  some  of  the  Plymouth  Colony. 
It  is  said  that  in  1633  Hull  had  twenty  houses  to  Boston's  one.  The 
first  minister  settled  in  this  interesting  village  was  Rev.  Ralph  Smith, 
of  Salem,  who  came  in  1629.  The  Rev.  7a-:uarir.h  Whitman,  a  gradu- 


THE    HULL    CHURCH. 

ate  of  Harvard  College,  was  the  first  regularly  ordained  minister  of 
the  town.  He  was  installed  September  13,  1670,  and  was  pastor  of 
the  parish  for  more  than  fifty  years.  His  salary  was  forty  pounds  a 
year  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage  land  and  one  of  the  thirty-two  lots 
into  which  the  town  was  divided.  About  the  time  of  the  Revolution 
the  regular  preaching  service  was  discontinued.  Many  of  the  people 
favored  the  appointment  of  a 
Baptist  preacher.  The  town 
suffered  during  the  war,  and 
its  inhabitants  were  much  im- 
poverished. In  September, 
1798,  Jesse  Lee  came  over 
from  Boston  and  preached 
the  first  Methodist  sermon 
from  the  text,  "And  Satan 
came  also."  But  it  was  not 
until  1816  that  a  class  of 
15  was  formed,  and  Hull  be- 
came a  charge  on  the  Scituate  circuit  of  the  Sandwich  district  of  the 
New  England  Conference.  The  parsonage  land  of  the  old  Congrega- 
tional Church  passed  over  into  the  hands  of  the  Methodist  trustees, 
and  up  to  this  day  the  funds  are  available  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel, 


THE:  HULL  PARSONAGE. 


98 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


In  the  "Scituate  circuit"  records,  May  15,  1848,  is  the  follow- 
ing report :  "Hull — Sabbath  school  reported  prosperous,  5  officers  and 
teachers,  25  pupils,  261  volumes  in  library,  $5  raised  for  the  expense 


REV.   W.    H.    BUTLER. 


MRS.   W.    H.   BUTLER. 


of  the  school,  spiritual  condition  low,  collection  for  missions  $8.04. 
No  report  of  pastoral  visits." 

For  many  years  the  church  was  either  part  of  a  circuit  or  else 
supplied  by  a  man  who  taught  the  school  week  days  and  preached  on 


JOHN    REED. 
Church   Treasurer. 


MRS.  E.  J.   McKANN. 
Pres.    Ladles'    Sewing    Circle. 


Sunday.  In  1857  Rev.  Samuel  Beedle,  a  supernumerary  member  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  took  charge  of  the  parish.  During 
his  pastorate  of  twelve  years  the  present  church  was  built,  in  1881, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


99 


and  he  also  completed  a  valuable  and  complete  history  of  the  re- 
ligious development  of  the  town. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  E.  Tarbell  a  powerful  revival 
of  religion  swept  the  town.  Following  him  came  Revs.  B.  Palmer 
and  George  T.  Norris,  both  students  in  the  Boston  University  The- 
ological School.  From  April,  1890,  to  May,  1892,  this  church  had 
three  pastors.  During  the  following  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  J.  Fol- 
lansbee  the  present  parsonage  was  purchased. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  no  less  than  four  ministers  and  six 
ministers'  wives  have  been  raised  in  this  little  church.  The  best 
known  of  the  ministers,  Rev.  Amos  Binney,  was  author  of  "Binney's 
Theological  Compend,"  which  has  had  extensive  circulation  in  sev- 


MISS   A.    L.    WILEY. 
Epworth   League   President. 


MRS.   E.   G.    KNIGHT. 

Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


eral  languages.     The  church  still  possesses  the  communion  service  of 
the  old  Congregational  Church. 

In  the  summer  a  fine  and  cultured  congregation  often  assembles 
within  its  walls.  The  church  is  much  indebted  to  the  Sewing  Circle 
of  the  town  and  to  the  lady  who  has  been  its  president  for  many  years, 
as  well  as  to  the  honored  treasurer  of  the  church,  who,  prior  to  the 
revival  of  religion  under  Rev.  E.  E.  Tarbell,  practically  stood  alone 
for  the  cause  of  Methodism. 


PASTORS. 

1818.          Enoch  Mudge  1823-27. 
1816.           Bartholomew  Otheman 

1819-22.     E.  T.  Taylor  1828. 

and  others  1829-30. 


Stephen  Puffer 

and  others 
Joel  Knight 
Jefferson  Hamilton 


100 

1831-32- 

1833-35- 

i836. 

1837-38- 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842-43. 

1844. 

1845- 
1846. 

1847- 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1852. 

1853- 
1854-55. 
1857-61. 
1862-63. 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


Josiah  Litch  1864. 

Otis  G.  Smith  1865. 

Joel  Knight  1866. 

Henry  W.  Adams  1867. 

Bradford  K.  Pierce  1868. 

Oliver  E.  Brown  1869. 

Oliver  D.  Morse  1870-71. 

Robert  Gould  1872. 

William  Holmes  1873. 

Abel  Gardner  1874.  ' 

Andrew  McKeown  1875. 

O.  Robbins  1876-87. 

Nahum    Tainter  1887. 
Lewis  Bates 

W.  Oakley  1889. 

No  Preaching  1890. 

Stephen  Puffer  1891. 

J.  Moore  1892-93. 
E.  E.  Kellogg 

No  Preaching  1894. 

Stephen  Puffer  1895-97. 
No  Preaching 


Joseph  Marsh 
Samuel  M.  Beal 
Charles  A.  Carter 
J.  N.  Collier 
Lorenzo   Dibble 
Albert  F.  Baxter 
Arthur  J.  Fitz 
H.  M.  Kellogg 
Students 
No  Preaching 
J.  O.  Thompson 
Samuel  Beedle 
Elmer  E.  Tarbell 
Byron  Palmer 
George  T.  Norris 
Richard  E.  Schuh 
Edwin  D.  Hall 
J.  B.  Smith 
Frank  J.  Follansbee 
Charles  N.  Hinckley 
William  H.  Butler 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — John  Reed,  Lewis  P.  Loring,  Edward  G.  Knight, 
George  Mann,  M.  D.  McDonald. 

Stewards — J.  Reed,  E.  G.  Knight,  Mrs.  Louis  Sirovich,  Mrs. 
Charles  Knight,  Mrs.  Edward  G.  Knight. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mrs.  Edward  G.  Knight;  Secre- 
tary, Fred  Souther;  Librarian,  William  Knight;  Organist,  Miss  Hattie 
Reed. 

Teachers — John  Reed,  A.  E.  Knight,  Mrs.  John  Reed,  Miss  Reed, 
Pastor. 

Epivorth  League — Jesse  Lee  Chapter,  No.  18,101 :  President,  Miss 
A.  L.  Wyllie;  First  Vice-President,  A.  E.  Knight;  Second  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Miss  H.  S.  Reed;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  E.  J.  Sirovich; 
Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Mann;  Secretary,  Mrs.  C.  V. 
Nickerson. 


EMMANUEL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  MANSFIELD,  MASS. 


I 


THE    MANSFIELD    CHURCH. 


This  church  was  organized  in  the  year  1860,  with  sixteen  mem- 
bers. The  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  Temperance  Hall  over  Roger- 
son  Brothers'  store,  on  April  8th.  Rev.  E.  F.  Hincks  supplied 

the  pulpit.     Worship  was  con- 

r  ~  ^IfT1      tinued      there     until     January, 

1 86 1,     from      which     time     to 
April,      1864,     there     were     no 
public   services.      Then  the   old 
Unitarian  Church  was  hired  and 
services  were  resumed,  continu- 
ing for  two  years  under  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  M.  P.  Alderman. 
In  the  spring  of  1866  the  society 
was  again  left   without  a  place 
for  public   worship.     After  five 
years  Mr.  Isaac  Lovell,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  society,  having  built  a 
hall,  offered  it  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship,  and   services   were     again 
commenced  in  1871,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  J.  Smith. 
Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev  John  Oldhani,  on  August  30,  1876, 
the  present  church  edifice  was  begun,  the  building  committee  being 
Rev.   'John    Oldhani.    F.    F. 
Shepardson       and      George 
Holland.    The  dedication  ser- 
vices were  held  December  20. 
and  the  sermon  preached  by 
Bishop  R.  S.  Foster.     Under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.   E.  W. 
Goodier  the  church   was   re- 
paired, and   under  the  evan- 
gelistic   efforts    oi    Rev.    Mr. 
Keyes  quite  an  extensive  re- 
vival took  place.     Under  the 
pastorate     of     Rev.     B.     W. 
Hutchinson,  the  steeple  was  changed    in    style    and    the    vestry    en- 
larged.    In  1890  Mr.  C.  T.  Borden   died,  leaving  the  church  a  build- 
ing and  lot  for  parsonage,  which  was  sold  and  the  present  new  build- 
ing erected,  first  occupied  by  Rev.  C.  E.  Beals.  at  the  close  of  whose 
pastorate  the  church  was  again  renovated  and  improved. 


THE   MANSFIELD   PARSONAGE. 


102 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


REV.   E.  F.   STUBLBT. 


MRS.    E.    F.    STUDLEY. 


PASTORS. 


1860. 

1864-65. 

1871-72. 

1873- 

1874. 

1875- 

1876-77- 

1878-79. 

1880-82. 

1883-84. 

1885. 

1886-87. 

1888-90. 

1891. 

1892-95. 

1896. 


E.  F.  Hincks 
M.  P.  Alderman 
W.  J.  Smith 

F.  C.  Newell 

J.  H.  Humphrey 
W.  H.  Turkington 
J.  Oldham 
T.  J.  Everett 
E.  W.  Gocdier 
N.  W.  Jordan 
W.  H.  Stetson 

B.  W.  Hntchinson 

C.  N.  Hinckley 
S.  T.  Patterson 
C.  E.  Beals 

E.  F.  Studlev 


DANIEL  H.   FOX  (Acting  Supt.) 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— F.  F.  Shepardson,  D.  H.  Fox,  C.  C.  Hagerty,  F.  J. 
Evans,  S.  H.  Witherwell,  J.  A.  Belcher,  John  Cliff,  Chas.  H.  Kittrell, 
George  W.  D.  Holt. 

Stewards— F.  F.  Shepardson,  D.  H.  Fox,  F.  J.  Evans,  C.  C. 
Hagerty,  E.  W.  Stearns,  M.  C.  Whitmore,  I.  T.  Wilber,  Eliza  B. 
Grant,  Miriam  A.  Gerrish,  Isabel  E.  Reed,  Alma  M.  Sawyer. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


103 


Class  Leader — M.  C.  Whitmore. 

Epworth  League — President,  Frank  J.  Evans;  First  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Lena  Evans;  Second  Vice-President,  Miriam  A.  Gerrish;  Third 
Vice  President,  Annie  Carpenter,  Fourth  Vice-President,  Cassie  Rec- 
tor; Secretary,  Etta  Barden;  Treasurer,  M.  C.  Whitmore;  Superin- 
tendent of  Junior  League,  Miriam  A.  Gerrish. 

Junior  League — President,  Amy  Boyden;  First  Vice-President, 
Jennie  Tucker;  Second  Vice-President,  Fred  Rector;  Third  and 
Fourth  Vice- Presidents.  Jennie  Gerrish;  Secretary,  Louise  Kittrell; 
Treasurer,  Murray  Currier. 

Sunday  School— Superintendent,  M.  C.  Whitmore;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, D.  H.  Fox;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  W.  A.  Shepard- 
son;  Librarian,  Willie  Freeman;  Organist,  Miriam  A.  Gerrish. 


FRANK   J.    EVANS. 
Epworth   League  President. 


M.    C.     WHITMORE. 
Sunday   School  Superintendent. 


M.     E.     CHURCH,     NANTASKET,     MASS. 


By  Arthur  Beale, 

Chairman  of  Board  of  Trustees. 

I  _..-• 

In  looking  over  the  records  of  this  church,  and  in  consultation 

with  its  oldest  living  members,  I  have  been  more  than  convinced  of 
the  wonderful  over-ruling  power  of  Him  who  has  brought  this  church 
to  its  present  standing.  Methodist  itinerants  preached  here  very  early 

in  this  century,  among 
whom  were  Aaron  Lum- 
mis,  Bicknell,  Merrill, 
Lorenzo  Dow,  and  prob- 
ably Jesse  Lee. 

The  building  of  the 
first  church  in  this  place 
was  through  the  constant 
effort  and  prayerful  faith 
of  one  woman  —  Sarah 
Beal,  long  known  as 
"Aunt  Sally  Beal." 

From  1817  to  1823 
meetings  were  held  in 
houses,  with  occasional 
preaching.  The  earliest 
church  records  have  been 
lost.  But  from  some 

Hull  church  records  (in  a  manuscript  written  in  1834)  we  take 
the  following:  "Dec.  18,  1818,  at  the  formation  of  the  Methodist  So- 
ciety at  Cohasset  the  following  named  appear,  who  were  of  Hull: 
Robert  Gould,  Molly  Binney  and  Rachael  Binney.  1819 — Edward  T. 
Taylor  and  Enoch  Mudge  preached  this  year."  This  church  was  orig- 
inally part  of  the  famous  "Scituate  Circuit."  The  church  is  located  in 
the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  for  over  a  half  century  it 
was  known  as  the  "North  Cohasset  Church."  The  first  house  of  wor- 
ship was  a  very  modest  one,  and  was  built  on  the  spot  where  our  post- 
master, Alfred  Beal's  home,  now  stands.  This  was  built  in  1823.  The 
inspiration  of  this  enterprise  was  the  Rev.  Stephen  Puffer,  then  a  local 
preacher,  assisted  by  circuit  preachers.  Among  those  more  frequently 
mentioned  is  one  "Father  Henderson,"  a  colored  preacher.  This 
method  was  continued  till  1829,  \vhen  Rev.  William  Ramsdell  became 
pastor  and  served  for  two  years.  In  1831  Rev.  Asa  U.  Swinerton  was 
pastor.  !  r<  m  1832  to  1836  Rev.  Stephen  Puffer  again  served  as  pas- 


THE   NANTASKET  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


105 


tor.  In  1838  Enoch  Mudge  was  pastor.  From  1839  to  ^46  Rev. 
Stephen  Puffer  again  labored  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  this  commun- 
ity. It  was  during  this  pastorate  that  the  present  church  edifice  (ex- 
cept the  steeple,  which  was  added  in  more  recent  years)  was  built. 
The  church  was  dedicated  in  September  1845.  Edward  T.  Taylor 
{''Father  Taylor")  preached  the  sermon.  It  was  a  great  event. 

Rev.  Onesipherous  Robbins  served  in  1847.  Many  kind  things 
are  recalled  of  him  to  this  day  by  the  people. 

From  the  old  "Scituate  circuit"  records  of  June,  1847,  we  ta^e 
the  following:  "State  of  religion  in  the  society  at  Cohasset  reported 
very  low — some,  little  improvement;  means  of  grace  not  well  attended; 
five  classes;  average  attendance  two-thirds  of  all  the  members." 


THE  NANTASKET  PARSONAGE. 

Rev.  George  H.  Winchester  served  in  1848-49.  He  was  a  godly 
man,  whose  strong  appeals  made  many  realize  their  spiritual  needs  and 
some  of  the  converts  of  his  pastorate  "remain  unto  this  day."  In  1850- 
51  Rev.  Daniel  Webb  was  pastor.  He  was  getting  old,  but  was  strong 
in  faith,  and  greatly  endeared  himself  to  the  people.  In  1852-53  the 
pastor  was  Rev.  John  D.  King,  one  of  the  best  of  men,  a  strict  dis- 
ciplinarian, following  out  all  its  requirements,  and  insisting  that  others 
should  do  the  same,  yet  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Tobey,  the  well-known  New  England  evan- 
gelist, and  who  for  six  years  was  president  of  the  Massachusetts 
W.  C.  T.  U.,  about  this  time,  when  a  little  girl,  while  spending  the 
summer  here  attended  this  church  one  Sunday  morning,  when  her 
pastor,  Rev.  E.  N.  Kirk,  D.  D.,  of  Alt.  Vernon  Church,  Boston,  was 
to  preach.  She  was  deeply  moved  by  the  sermon  and  went  home  and 
gave  her  heart  to  Christ  that  day. 

In   1859-60  came   Rev.    Lemuel    Harlow,  who   ranks  with   Father 
Webb  for  piety  and  usefulness  and  in  kind  remembrance. 


io6 


SOI  Jl 'F.NIR  HISTORY 


It  was  during  those  years  that  tlie  church  had  a  splendid  choir  that 
enjoyed  more  than  a  local  reputation.  Abner  Deal  was  the  chorister, 
who  also  taught  many  "singing-  schools"  in  the  neighboring  towns. 
Solomon  J.  Beal  was  the  organist.  The  other  members  of  this  choir 
were  Isaac  W.  Heals,  Thomas  Hudson,  Welcome  Beal,  Mrs.  Welcome 
Beal,  Lydia  A.  Beal,  Sarah  Beal,  Susan  Frances  Beal,  Irene  W.  Beal, 
Nettie  Gushing  and  James  S.  Beal. 

Rev.  George  S.  Alexander  was  pastor  in  1861.  He  had  great  in- 
fluence over  the  young  in  their  games  and  social  gatherings  as  well 
as  in  religious  meetings.  In  1866-67  Rev.  John  M.  Collier  was  pastor. 
He  was  one  of  the  kindliest  of  men,  earnest  in  his  work,  but  through 


REV.    RENNETTS    O.    MILLER. 


MRS.     ETHEL    BEAL    MILLER. 


pressure  of  circumstances  over  which  he  had  no  control,  he  was  led 
to  resign  his  ministerial  work.  A  railroad  accident  soon  after  ended 
his  life. 

It  was  here  in  1869  to  1871  that  the  venerable  J.  B.  Husted,  well 
known  as  "Father  Husted,"  closed  his  active  ministry.  The  Presiding 
Elder's  report  for  1869  contains  the  following:  "We  have  three  flour- 
ishing churches  at  East  Weymouth,  Stoughton  and  North  Cohasset.'? 
He  was  very  popular.  He  was  ever  ready  in  sympathy,  in  prayer,  in 
sickness,  in  bereavement. 

From  1874  to  1876  Rev.  J.  O.  Thompson  served.  He  was  an 
aggressive,  painstaking,  persistent  worker  for  good.  The  Presiding 
Elder's  report  for  1876  says:  "The  parsonage  at  North  Cohasset, 
chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  Brother  Thompson,  has  been  enlarged, 
remodeled  and  generally  improved  at  an  expense  of  over  $400."  The 
church  was  also  frescoed  and  a  new  pulpit  suit  placed  in  the  church. 
A  spiritual  harvest  also  blessed  his  ministry  here. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


107 


The  Methodist  Conference  wheel  of  1882  brought  the  famous 
silver-tongued  orator,  Rev.  Angelo  Canoll,  as  pastor,  the  man  of  whom 
Bishop  Foster  said  once,  after  hearing  him  preach:  "I  have  heard  a 
few  great  sermons:  this  is  one  of  them."  Mr.  Canoll's  pastorate  was 
unique  in  many  respects,  and  in  some  ways  the  most  popular  in  the 
church's  history.  His  eloquent  sermons  drew  large  numbers  of  the 
summer  residents,  who  ordinarily  attended  other  churches.  A  great 
many  young  people  were  converted  during  his  pastorate. 

Rev.  James  Mather  was  a  faithful  pastor  and  preacher  in  1884. 

Rev.  John  H.  Allen  spent  two  very  pleasant  and  successful  years 
here,  1885  and  1886.  His  strong,  scholarly,  yet  helpful  sermons  and 


ARTHUR    BE  ALB. 
Sunday   School  Superintendent. 


WARRTSN  LOTHROP. 

Kpworth   League   President. 


his  conscientious,  faithful  pastoral  labors  made  a  deep  and  permanent 
influence  for  good  upon  the  community. 

The  years  1887  to  1889  marked  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Denison  L. 
Brown.  Mr.  Brown  stood  up  conscientiously  for  what  he  believed  to 
be  right,  notwithstanding,  these  were  trying  years  for  the  church. 
During  the  second  year  a  church  trouble  arose  which  resulted  in  a 
large  number  of  the  members  withdrawing,  and  organizing  a  Congre- 
gational Society  in  the  village. 

In  1890-91  Rev.  James  H.  Macdonald,  fresh  from  college,  came 
to  take  up  the  work.  During  Mr.  Brown's  last  year  efforts  were  be- 
gun to  raise  money  for  a  thorough  repairing  of  the  church.  Mr.  Mac- 
donald took  hold  of  the  work  with  great  enthusiasm  and  persistence. 
He  succeeded  in  arousing  not  only  the  church  people,  but  also  the  sum- 


I08  SOUl  "ENIR  HISTORY. 

mer  residents,  who  contributed  very  generously.  Hon.  E.  H.  Dunn 
of  Boston  did  much  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  summer  people 
and  make  the  undertaking  a  success.  As  a  result,  about  $2,000  were 
spent  in  remodeling  the  church.  The  present  steeple  was  placed  on 
the  church,  a  new  pulpit  suit,  new  organ,  new  carpet,  etc.,  added. 
About  half  of  the  $2,000  was  provided  for  the  time  of  the  re-open- 
ing, when  the  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Charles  H.  Park- 
hurst,  D.  D.,  editor  of  Zion's  Herald.  Mr.  Macdonald  was  very  popu- 
lar with  both  old  and  young,  and  especially  among  the  summer  people. 
Rev.  Charles  Smith  followed  in  1892-93.  His  faithful  spiritual 
preaching  and  pastoral  labors  showed  fruit  in  many  ways.  No  former 
pastor  is  more  popular  here  to-day  than  he. 


GROUP    OF    THK    LADIES'    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY. 

Rev.  Elijah  Smith  spent  the  year  1894  as  pastor  here,  doing  much 
faithful  work. 

Then  in  1895  came  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Rennetts  C.  Miller,  a 
young  man  full  of  zeal  and  energy,  who,  early  in  1895  began  planning 
to  clear  the  debt  of  nearly  $500  that  still  remained  on  the  church,  and 
also  to  raise  funds  for  placing  a  long-needed  bell  in  the  church  tower. 
He  found  the  Official  Board  had  little  faith  in  the  project,  and  were 
rather  reluctant  to  encourage  his  efforts.  But  holding  on  to  his  plan, 
he  carried  it  to  a  successful  completion,  when  on  November  10,  1897, 
a  series  of  "Jubilee  Services"  were  begun,  when  Professor  M.  D.  Buell, 
'.  D.;  Rev.  W.  N.  Brodbeck,  D.  D.,  J.  Walter  Morris,  A.  M.,  and 
others  gave  addresses.  The  week  closed  with  a  "Grand  Jubilee  Con- 
cert," given  by  the  famous  East  Weymouth  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  choir. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


109 


January  29,  1896,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Ethel  May  Beal,  an 
active  Christian  girl,  a  school  teacher,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Laban  O.  Beal  of  this  place.  The  wedding  took  place  in  the  church, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  W.  N.  Brodbeck,  D.  D.,  as- 
sisted by  the  Presiding  Elder,  S.  O.  Benton,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  O.  R. 
Miller  of  the  New  England  Conference,  a  twin  brother  of  the  groom. 

Mr.  Miller  has  also  given  very  constant  labor  for  the  spiritual  up- 
lift of  the  church.  During  his  second  year  he  had  the  Scituate  charge, 
in  addition  to  Nantasket,  preaching  there  every  Sunday  afternoon. 
The  year  just  closing  has  likewise  been  a  very  busy  one  for  him. 
In  addition  to  the  regular  pastoral  work  he  has  raised  nearly  $8cx> 
for  the  purchase  of  the  new  "Blymer"  bell  and  the  clearing  off  of  the 
old  standing  debt  (nearly  $500),  the  greater  part  being  contributed  by 
the  summer  people.  Thus  during  the  present  pastorate  about  $1,000 
has  been  raised  and  spent  on  old  debts  and  various  church  improve- 
ments. 

Special  mention  should  be  made .  of  the  Epworth  League  and 
Ladies'  Benevolent  Society  for  their  great  financial  assistance  to  the 
church  in  the  past  and  present. 


A    VIKW   OF  THK    FAMOUS   NANTASKKT    UKAC'IF. 

Some  gifts  of  friends  must  not  be  overlooked.  Mrs.  Sally  I'uffer, 
wife  of  Stephen  Puffer,  left  this  church  about  $500.  Mr.  D.  ( ).  Wade 
for  years  remitted  interest  to  the  church  on  the  debt,  amounting  to> 
$140. 

Rev.  Samuel  M.  Beale  of  this  Conference  was  sent  out  from  this 


I10  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

church.  Of  the  spiritual  and  financial  pillars  of  the  church  of  years 
ago  the  following  are  worthy  of  mention :  Thomas  Hudson,  Caleb  Beal, 
Zaccheus  Beal,  James  Barnes,  Orrin  Beal,  Isaac  Lambert,  Samuel  M. 
Beal,  Abner  Beal,  Daniel  Beal  and  Laban  Beal. 

No  great,  sweeping  revivals  have  ever  come  to  this  church,  al- 
though conversions  have  been  recorded  of  about  every  pastorate. 
Those  specially  marked  by  revival  influences  have  been  those  of  Puffer, 
Robbins,  Winchester,  Webb,  Alexander,  Husted,  Thompson,  Canoll, 
Charles  Smith  and  the  present  pastor. 

Nantasket  Beach  has  long  been  famous.  Aside  from  Newport 
and  Bar  Harbor,  this  is,  without  doubt,  the  most  popular  summer  re- 
sort on  the  New  England  coast.  Some  persons  have  pronounced  it 
the  most  perfect  natural  beach  in  the  world.  Being  but  ten  miles  from 
Boston,  by  boat,  it  has  become  very  popular  for  summer  residences. 
Large  numbers  of  Bostonians  spend  from  three  to  five  months  of 
the  year  here.  Many  of  these  are  well  known  throughout  the  financial, 
social,  literary  and  religious  circles  of  New  England. 

As  a  result,  this  church  enjoys  the  presence  of  many  of  the  sum- 
mer visitors  whose  financial  aid.  as  well  as  interest,  is  always  appre- 
ciated by  the  church. 

PASTORS. 

1847.  Onesipherous  Robbins 

1848-49.     George  H.  Winchester 
1850-51.     Daniel  Webb 

l852-53-  Jonn  D-  King 

1854.  Lawton  Cady 

1855-56.  Oliver  P.  Farrington 

l&57-5&-  Thomas  Spilsted 

1859-60.  Lemuel  Harlow 

1 86 1.  George  S.  Alexander 

1862-63.  Benjamin  L.  Sayer 

1864-65.  Franklin  Gavitt 

1866-67.  John  N.  Collier 

1868.  Philip  Crandon 

1869-71.  John  B.  Husted 

1872-73.  F.  D.  Goodrich 

1874-76.  James  O.  Thompson 

1877-79.  Silas  Sprowl 

1880-81.  Francis  D.  Sargent 

1882-83.  Angelo  Canoll 

1884.  Tames  Mather 

1885-86.  tohn  H.  Allen 

1887-89.  "D.  L.  Brown 

1890-91.  J.  H.  Macdonald 

1892-93.  Charles  Smith 

1894.  ^  Elijah  Smith 

T8Q5-97-  Bennetts  C.  Miller 


REV.   STEPHEN   PUFFER. 
Three  Times  Pastor  of  this  Church. 

1818-22.     E.  T.  Taylor  and  others 
1823-29.     Stephen  Puffer 

''Father"  Henderson 
and  others 

1830.  William  Ramsdell 

1831.  Asa  U.  Swinerton 
1832-36.     Stephen  Puffer 
1838.          J.  Mudge 
1839-46.     Stephen  Puffer 
1846.          Stephen  Puffer 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Arthur  Beale  (Chairman),  Warren  Lothrop,  H.  A.  Tib- 
bitts,  Frankin  Beal,  Joseph  Priest,  William  Lothrop. 

Stewards— Warren  Lothrop  (R.  S.),  Mrs.  L.  O.  Beal  (D.  S.),  Ar- 
thur Beale,  Mrs.  James  Lean,  Mrs.  Emma  Lothrop,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Spring, 
Mrs.  I.  W.  Beal,  Mrs.  Lucy  Bakeman,  Mrs.  Adelia  Beale. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Arthur  Beale;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Warren  Lothrop;  Secretary,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Spring;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Alice  M.  Clark;  Librarian,  Miss  Gussie  Nichols;  Assistant  Li- 
brarian, H.  Davis;  Organist,  Mrs.  D.  O.  Wade;  Chorister,  I.  W.  Beal. 

Teachers — Arthur  Beale,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Spring,  Mrs.  Lucy  Bakeman, 
Warren  Lothrop,  the  Pastor,  Mrs.  Miller. 

Epivorth  League — President,  \Varren  Lothrop;  Secretary,  Mrs. 
George  E.  Davis;  Treasurer,  H.  A.  Tibbitts. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Pastor's  wife;  President,  Edith 
Tibbitts. 

Ladies'  Benevolent  Society — President,  Mrs.  G.  E.  Davis;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Bakeman;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Clark. 


NEW  EAST  GREENWICH   ACADEMY  COTTAGE. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEWPORT,  R.  I. 


In  1790  Jesse  Lee  visited  Rhode  Island,  and  preached  in  Newport 
in  the  month  of  June.  Newport  was  first  included  in  what  was  called 
Greenwich  Circuit,  and  afterwards  in  Warren  Circuit,  which  was 

formed  in  1794.  In  1800  Joshua 
Hall  was  appointed  to  Rhode 
Island,  preached  in  Newport, 
and  organized  the  first  society. 
Whether  the  small  class  then  or- 
ganized became  permanent  can- 
not now  be  determined.  In 
1805  Reuben  Hubbard,  then 
stationed  in  Boston,  visited 
Newport  and  preached  in  the 
First  Baptist  Church.  After- 
wards the  Senate  Chamber  of 
the  State  House  was  used,  but 
this  was  soon  found  to  be  too 
small,  and  the  Assembly  Cham- 
ber was  occupied  by  Mr.  Hub- 
bard  and  his  congregation. 

A  church,  the  one  still  in  use, 
was  built  in  1806,  and  dedicated 
in  1807.  This  was  the  first 
Methodist  Church  with  a  to\ver 
and  bell  in  America,  and  per- 
haps in  the  world.  The  tower 
still  remains  unchanged. 

In  those  early  years  Daniel  Webb  did  much  to  strengthen  and 
enlarge  the  church.  He  had  two  pastorates,  the  second  one  running 
from  1814  to  1825.  The  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  1827, 
Samuel  Norris,  pastor.  Hon.  Dutee  J.  Pearce,  well  known  in  the 
annals  of  the  state  and  nation,  was  chosen  president,  and  Peter  P. 
Remington,  secretary.  Among  others  prominent  in  the  church  in 
the  first  half  century  and  a  little  more  of  its  history  were  Jeremiah 
Hazard,  John  Allan,  John  C.  Braman,  William  R.  Pitman,  J.  C. 
Powell  and  Benjamin  Mumford,  the  latter  a  man  of  great  courage 
and  progressive  spirit.  In  1829  James  Porter  became  pastor,  giving 
much  promise  of  his  future  success  as  preacher  and  author. 

The  church  was  favored  with  several  revivals  of  religion  in  this 

period:  the  most  powerful  one  was  in  the  pastorate  of  Joel  Knight, 

i  1842.     He  removed  at  the  end  of  one  year,  and  there  were  306 


THE   FIRST  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  113 

members,  including  probationers,  the  largest  number  that  has  ever 
been  reported.  In  1844  the  annual  conference  was  held  in  this  church. 
Robert  M.  Hatfield,  the  pastor,  was  ordained  at  this  conference.  The 
conference  also  was  held  here  in  1855  and  1890. 


THE    FIRST    CHURCH    PARSONAGE. 


In  1856,  Frederick  Upham,  pastor,  there  was  organized  a  mission, 
which  has  since  developed  into  the  Thames  Street  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Some  improvements  were  made  in  the  church  edifice, 
and  a  new  organ  was  procured  in  the  pastorate  of  M.  J.  Talbot,  who 


REV.  J.   H.  ALLEN. 


MRS.  J.   H.  ALLEN. 


was  appointed  in  1857.  Dr.  Talbot  afterward  was  elected  the  first 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  of  this  city.  The  congregations 
continued  large  and  the  church  prosperous  in  the  pastorate  of  Henry 


SOUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


S.  White.  He  was  afterward  chaplain  in  the  United  States  Army, 
and  was  a  prisoner  in  Andersonville.  Two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  were  expended,  chiefly  on  the  vestry,  while  E.  S.  Stanley  was 
pastor,  1869-71.  The  present  parsonage  was  built  at  an  expense  of 
$6,500  in  the  pastorate  of  D.  P.  Leavitt,  1871-73.  Mrs.  Alexander 
Murray  had  left  a  legacy  of  $500  toward  building  the  same. 

On  December  15,  1881,  the  church  caught  fire  and  was  badly 
damaged.  This  was  in  the  pastorate  of  Angelo  Canoll,  whose  elo- 
quent sermons  made  a  marked  impression  upon  the  community  at 
large.  The  church  was  thoroughly  rebuilt,  with  numerous  improve- 


FRED  WEIR. 
Epworth   League  President. 


COL.   J.    W.    HORTON. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


ments,  including  seven  memorial  windows,  and  was  reopened  in  July, 
1882,  D.  A.  Whedon,  D.  D.,  pastor,  who  had  already  served  one  term, 
1866-67.  Bishop  Andrews  preached  the  sermon  at  the  reopening  ser- 
vice. 

E.  C  Bass,  D.  D.,  after  serving  four  years  as  pastor,  was  appointed 
Presiding  Elder  of  Providence  District  in  1896.  A  debt  of  $7,000  was 
discharged,  and  $900  raised  and  applied  to  improvements  during  this 
pastorate,  not  one  dollar  being  raised  by  any  indirect  method  of 
church  revenue.  The  parish  corporation  was  also  discontinued,  every 
pew  holder  freely  relinquishing  his  title.  The  act  of  incorporation  of 
1807  had  been  followed  by  anew  act  in  1871,  by  which  two  charters 
came  into  force,  one  of  the  church,  the  other  of  the  parish.  That  of 
the  parish  was  now  dissolved,  and  all  sittings  in  the  church  rented 
annually  at  one  dollar  each.  During  this  pastorate  one-eighth  df  the 
membership  died,  yet  the  records  showed  a  net  increase  in  numbers, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  Hg 

including  many  young  people.  An  Epworth  League  was  organized 
in  June,  1896,  in  the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Allen. 

One  of  the  pastors  of  this  church,  Lucius  D.  Davis,  after  serving 
three  years,  1863-65,  became  a  layman,  and  purchased  the  "Newport 
Daily  News,"  of  which  he  has  been  the  leading  editorial  writer  for 
thirty  years.  He  was  lay  delegate  to  the  general  conference  of  1876. 
In  1882  he  published  a  "History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Newport,  R.  I."  He  is  a  contributor  to  botanical  periodicals,  and  is 
regarded  as  an  authority  in  arboriculture.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  stewards  since  1870. 

Mr.  T.  T.  Pitman,  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  church,  has  served 
on  the  Park  Commission  for  the  City  of  Newport,  and  for  many  years 
has  been  proprietor  of  the  "Newport  Daily  News." 


T.   T.   PITMAN. 


L.    D.    DAVIS. 


J.  W.  Horton,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  has  been  colonel 
of  the  Newport  Artillery,  has  served  on  the  school  board,  in  the  Legis- 
lature, for  several  years  on  the  city  government,  has  been  Mayor  of 
Newport,  and  for  twenty-six  years  Sunday  school  superintendent.  He 
was  elected  State  Senator  in  November,  1897,  to  fill  vacancy  caused 
by  death  of  Charles  H.  Burdick. 


1805.  Reuben  Hubbard 

1807.  Samuel  Merwin 

1809.  Daniel  Webb 

1811.  Benj.  F.  Lambert 


PASTORS. 

1814. 
1825. 
1827. 
1829. 


Daniel  Webb 
Enoch  Mudge 
Samuel  Norris 
James  Porter 


j  j  6  SOU  I  'ENIR  HIS  TOR  Y. 

1830.  Thomas  W.  Tucker  1858.  John  B.  Rusted 

1832.  Asa  Kent  1859-60.  Henry  S.  White 

1834.  John  Lord  1861-62.  Charles  H.  Titus 

1835.  Lewis  Janson  1863-65.  Lucius  D.  Davis 

1836.  Thomas  Ely  1866-67.  Daniel  A.  Whedon 

1837.  Jonathan  Cady  1868.  George  M.  Hamlen 

1838.  Isaac  Stoddard  1869-70.  Edwin  S.  Stanley 
1840-41.  Franklin  Gavitt  1871-73-  Dudley  P.  Leavitt 
1842.  Joel  Knight  1874-76.  William  F.  Whitcher 
1843-44.  Robert  Ai.  Hatfield  1877-79.  Edgar  M.  Smith 
1845.  Elisha  B.  Bradford  188081.  Angelo  Canoll 
1846-47.  Richard  Livesey  1882.  Daniel  A.  Whedon 
1848-49.  Bartholomew     Otheman  1883-85.  Joseph  Hollingshead 
1850-51.  Asa  U.  Swinerton  1886.  Thomas  J.  Everett 
1852.  John  B.  Husted  1887-89.  Joshua  A.  L.  Rich 
1853-54.  John  Lovejoy  1890-91.  Warren  A.   Luce 
18=55-56.  Frederick  Upham  .1892-95.  Edward  C.  Bass 
1857.^  Micah  J.  Talbot  1896.   '  John  H.  Allen 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Class  Leaders — W.  H.  Arnold,  W.  D.  Hartley,  Mary  L.  Thurston. 

Trustees—].  W.  Horton,  E.  O.  Riggs,  T.  T.  Pitman,  C.  H.  Taber, 
Frederick  Bradley,  R.  C.  Bacheller,  B.  F.  Thurston,  G.  F.  Downing, 
J.  A.  Hovey. 

Stewards — L.  D.  Davis,  G.  H.  Lovejoy,  B.  F.  Downing,  P.  H. 
Thurston,  T.  D.  Champlin,  B.  F.  Thurston  (R.  S.),  E.  D.  Jones,  James 
Hardy,  J.  T.  Kaull,  H.  C.  Bacheller,  A.  M.  Bailey,  Frederick  Weir. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  J.  W.  Horton;  Assistant,  W.  D. 
Hartley;  Secretary,  W.  S.  Bates;  Assistant,  A.  T.  Bailey;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Lawton;  Librarian,  E.  O.  Riggs;  Assistant,  W.  E. 
Stanhope;  Organist,  Miss  Mary  Popple;  Chorister,  W.  H.  Arnold. 

Teachers— Rev.  J.  H.  Allen,  W.  H.  Arnold,  R.  C.  Bacheller,  A.  M. 
Bailey,  H.  D.  Hartley,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Allen,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Arnold,  Mrs. 
Frederick  Bradley,  Mrs.  Alfred  Chase,  Mrs.  G.  F.  Downing,  Mrs. 
James  Groff,  Mrs.  Walter  Hills,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Kelley,  Mrs.  M.  T.  Peck- 
ham,  Mrs.  Clarence  Stanhope,  Mrs.  William  Stanhope,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Wilbur,  Miss  Emily  Bradley,  Miss  Lizzie  Brver.  Miss  Amelia  Frye, 
Miss  Julia  Holt,  Miss  Elizabeth  Lawton,  Miss  Maud  Law-ton,  Miss 
F.  O.  Palmer,  Miss  Hannah  Stoddard,  Miss  M.  L.  Thurston. 

Epworth  League — President,  Frederick  Weir;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Miss  Mary  L.  Thurston;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Hailey;  Third  Vice-President,  Dr.  Frederick  Bradley;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  William  S.  Bates;  Secretary,  Miss  Bessie  S.  Champlin; 
Treasurer,  Henry  Taber. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  MIDDLETOWX,  R.  I. 


The  first  Methodist  class  was 
organized  by  Frederick  Upham 
in  the  spring  of  1856,  with  Tru- 
man B.  Congdon,  leader. 

Soon  afterward  Rev.  John  F. 
Fogg  was  secured  and  meetings 
were  held  regularly. 

At  the  session  of  the  Provi- 
dence Conference,  convened  April 
i,  1857,  at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  Rev. 
Charles  A.  Merrill  was  appoint- 
ed to  Middletown  as  "preacher  in 
charge."  He  arrived  April  I4th, 
and  began  at  once  a  successful 
pastorate. 

Under  his  direction  the  First 
M.  E.  Church  of  Middletown  was 
organized  June  27,  1857. 

The   membership    consisted   of 
THE  MIDDLETOWN  CHURCH.         four     members     "in     full,"     and 

twenty-five  probationers. 

A  gracious   revival   crowned  the   efforts   of  pastor   and  people. 
Much  credit  is  due  to  Truman  B.  Congdon  and  Isaac  Smith  for 


REV.   R.  S.    MOORE. 


MRS.    K.    S.    M< 


their  earnest  and  persistent  efforts  in  establishing  Methodist  meetings 
in  the  town. 


Ilg  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

The  church  edifice,  which  has  been  enlarged  and  remodelled,  was 
originally  owned  and  occupied  by  a  society  calling  themselves  Chris- 
tian Baptists,  a  company  of  believers  who  withdrew  from  the  "Old 
Swamp  Meeting-house." 

For  four  years,  however,  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  class, 
the  house  had  been  closed. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  September  16,  1889.  A 
society  known  as  the  "Young  People's  Christian  League"  had  existed 
for  a  year  previously. 


MISS    IDA  M.    BROWN. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


PASTORS. 

1857-58- 

1859-60. 

1861-62. 

1863-64. 

1865. 

1866-68. 

1869-70. 

1871. 

1872-73. 

187,1-76. 

1877-79. 

1 880-8 1. 

1882-83. 

1884-85. 

1886-87. 

1888-91. 

1 892-94. 

1895-96. 


Charles  A.  Merrill 
W.  V.  Morrison 
W.  Turkington 
A.  A.  Wright 
Carlos   Banning 
W.  Livesey 
Franklin   Gavitt 
N.  W.  Chase 
Charles  Hammond 
Merrick   Ransom 

E.  L.  Hyde 

J.  O.  Thompson 
James  Mather 
W.  A.  Wright 
John  W.   Willett 
J.   Francis  Cooper 
W.  H.  Allen 

F.  L.  Brooks 
R.  S.  Moore 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Abram  A.  Brown,  George  A.  Brown,  Ashton  1. 
Barker,  C.  Henry  Congdon,  Arthur  W.  Chase,  Charles  Peckham, 
Millard  F.  Smith,  William  Smith,  Charles  H.  Ward. 

Stewards — Abram  A.  Brown,  Alden  P.  Barker,  James  H.  Barker, 
Lyman  H.  Barker.  Lydia  B.  Chase,  Charles  Peckham,  Christopher  S. 
Peckham,  Ellen  E.  Smith,  Millard  F.  Smith,  William  T.  Slocum, 
A.  Herbert  Ward,  Charles  H.  Ward,  John  B.  Ward. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent.  Ida  M.  Brown;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, William  T.  Slocum ;  Superintendent  of  Primary  Department, 
Ellen  C.  Smith:  Secretary,  Lionel  Peabody,  Jr.;  Assistant  Secretary, 
Adeline  M.  Barker;  Treasurer,  Millard  F.  Smith;  Librarian,  Hattie  E. 
Brown;  Organist.  Sadie  F.  Peckham;  Chorister,  John  Peckham. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Alden  Barker.  Mrs.  Scott  Barker,  Miss  Louise 
Barker,  Miss  Ida  B.  Brown,  Mrs.  George  Carter,  Mrs.  Susan  Cogge- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


119 


shall,   Charles   Peckham,  Lizzie  Peckham,  Sadie  C.   Peckham,  Mrs. 
Isaac  Peabody,  Annie  P.  Smith,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Smith,  John  B.  Ward. 

Epworth  League — Mrs.  Ida  M.  Brown,  President;  Mrs.  Isaac 
Peabody,  First  Vice-President;  Hattie  Brown,  Second  Vice-President; 
Sadie  E.  Peckham,  Third  Vice-President;  Lizzie  Smith,  Fourth  Vice- 
President;  William  J.  Peckham,  Secretary;  William  L.  Brown,  Treas- 
urer. 


THAMES  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEWPORT,  R.  I. 

It  was  about  the  year  1840  that  members  of  the  Marlboro  Street 
Church  began  to  hold  meetings  in  the  south  part  of  the  city  at  private 
houses,  but  mostly  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Fidelia  Slocum.  For  nearly 
twelve  years  class  and  prayer  meetings  were 
held.  In  1854,  while  John  Love  joy  was  pastor 
of  the  Marlboro  Street  Church,  the  official  board 
secured  an  old  schoolhouse  on  Melburn  court, 
and  in  August  Mr.  Love  joy  began  regular  ser- 
vices therein.  The  place  of  worship  was  soon 
changed  to  a  vacant  store  on  Sisson's  wharf. 

In  1855  O.  N.  Brooks  was  sent  by  the  con- 
ference to  labor  in  South  Newport.  No  church 
organization  had  been  effected,  and  Mr.  Brooks 
found  himself  without  any  church  or  means  of 
support.  But  through  an  arrangement  made 
with  Bishop  Janes  by  Rev.  Frederick  Upham, 
D.  D.,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Marlboro 
Street  Church,  Mr.  Brooks  became  Dr.  Up  ham's  assistant. 

The  next  important  step  was  to  procure  a  stated  and  more  con- 
venient place  of  worship,  and  after  considerable  difficulty,  the  site  on 
the  corner  of  Thames  and  Brewer  streets  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$3,000.  The  old  dwelling-house  standing  on  this  lot  was  fatted  up  at 
an  expense  of  between  $500  and  $600,  for  temporary  use.  On  the  I9th 
of  April,  1856,  twenty-seven  persons  took  letters  from  the  Marlboro 
Street  Church  and  were  organized  into  a  society.  The  first  quarterly 
Conference  was  held  June  7,  1856.  The  following  persons  were  pres- 
ent : 

Charles  H.  Titus,  Presiding  Elder;  O.  N.  Brooks,  pastor. 
Stewards — Clark   Burdick,  I.  W.  Sherman,  Benjamin  S.  Seatle, 
W.  D.  Morehead,  E.  S.  Hildreth,  Daniel  Jackson,  George  N.  Lawton. 
Class  Leaders — Nathan  G.  Kenyon,  Ira  S.  Eldredge,  William  J. 
Holt. 


THE    THAMES    ST. 
CHURCH. 


I2O 


SOU  I 'EN  I R  HISTORY. 


The  Sunday  school,  in  charge  of  E.  S.  Hilclreth,  reported  sixteen 

officers  and  teachers  and  seventy-five  scholars. 

The  second  pastor  was  E.  A.  Lyon,  who  came  in  1858.    He  found 

the  young  society  weak,  but  brave  and  hopeful.     This  pastorate  was 

blessed  with  a  good  revival 
of  religion,  in  which  nearly 
one  hundred  were  con- 
verted. 

Mr.  Lyon  was  succeeded 
by  W.  H.  Richards,  whose 
ministry  in  Newport  was 
successful.  He  gathered 
and  held  a  fine  congrega- 
tion. During  the  pastor- 
ate of  Mr.  Richards,  the 
subject  of  a  new  house  of 
worship  was  agitated,  but 
the  burning  of  three  fac- 
tories in  the  south  part  of 
the  town  about  that  time 
caused  the  postponement 

of  the  whole  matter.     Next  came  William  Livesey,  a  man  of  tireless 

energy  and  indomitable  purpose.     He  wrought  well  for  the  church. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Livesey,  E.  A.  Lyon  was  returned  to  the 


THE  THAMES  ST.  PARSONAGE. 


REV.   G.    E.    BRIGHTMAN. 


MRS.    G.    E.    BRIGHTMAN. 


charge.     During  the  second  pastorate  of  Mr.  Lyon  the  church  build- 
ing was  erected,  and  it  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Janes  December  21, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


121 


1865.  From  time  to  time  the  edifice  has  been  improved,  until  now  it  is 
one  of  the  most  convenient  buildings  for  church  purposes  in  the  con- 
ference. 

Frederick  Upham,  D.  D.,  was  appointed  to  the  charge  in  1866. 
The  church  prospered  under  his  leadership.     He  was  largely  instru- 


T.    FRED    KAULL. 
Sunday   School  Superintendent. 

mental  in  founding  the  church,  during  his  former  pastorate  in  the 
city,  and  knew  it  well.  Asa  N.  Bodfish  was  the  next  pastor.  He  re- 
mained two  years  and  did  good  work.  He  was  followed  by  B.  A. 
Chase,  whose  early  death  was  mourned  by  his  many  friends. 

In  1873  E.  F.  Jones  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  During  his 
ministry  the  present  beautiful  chapel  was  erected,  the  congregations 
increased,  the  Sunday  school  grew  and  a  large  number  of  persons 
united  with  the  church.  Mr. ^J ones  left  the  society  in  a  more  hopeful 
condition  than  at  any  time  during  its  previous  history. 

S.  Leader  came  in  1875.  His  pastorate  was  marked  by  the  acqui- 
sition of  a  parsonage,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Susan  Magna,  a  member  of 


122 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  Leader  was  succeeded  by  William  T. 
Harlow  in  1877.  This  pastorate  was  an  active  and  most  successful 
one.  In  1879  O-  H.  Fernald  became  the  pastor,  and  the  church  enjoyed 
prosperity.  S.  J.  Carroll  was  appointed  to  the  charge  in  1879.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry  the  church  reached  its  highest  success,  up  to  that  time. 
Many  conversions  were  reported,  the  church  building  was  improved, 
an  excellent  organ  was  purchased,  and  nearly  three  thousand  dollars 
were  expended  in  improvements.  The  Sunday  school,  under  the  su- 
perintendency  of  A.  C.  Titus,  was  large  and  flourishing. 

Edgar  F.  Black  was  the  next  minister.  His  name  and  work  are 
held  in  loving  remembrance.  His  great  heart  and  fine  intellectual 
powers  made  him  a  potent  influence  in  the  city.  F.  D.  Blakeslee, 
D.  D.,  came  to  the  charge  in  1886,  and  remained  but  one  year,  being 
recalled  to  the  presidency  of  the  East  Greenwich  Academy.  It  was, 
however,  one  of  the  best  years  in  the  history  of  the  church.  His  term 
of  service  was  characterized  by  a  precious  revival  interest,  and  many 
persons  were  led  to  Christ.  All  departments  were  prosperous.  O.  W. 
Scott  followed  Dr.  Blakeslee  and  enjoyed  a  good  year,  but  was 
obliged  to  move  on  account  of  his  wife's  health. 

W.  I.  Ward  came  in  1888,  and,  as  he  is  always  doing,  did  faithful 
work  for  the  church.  In  1890  G.  W.  Hunt  began  his  labors  with  the 
church.  Mr.  Hunt  was  an  indefatigable  worker.  The  church  property 
was  greatly  improved,  at  an  expense  of  $4,500,  every  dollar  of  which 
was  paid  at  the  time. 

In  1892  H.  B.  Cady  began  his  work,  and  for  three  years  led  this 
flock  of  God.  His  administration  was  wise  and  its  influence  still  abides. 

In  1895  J.  H.  McDonald  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  His 
earnest  and  able  preaching  made  a  deep  impression  upon  his  congre- 
gation, and  his  many  friends  regretted  his  removal  from  the  city. 

Of  the  first  stewards  of  this  church,  Isaac  W.  Sherman  still  lives 
a  useful  and  honored  member.  Although  in  his  eighty-eighth  year, 
he  is  constant  in  his  attendance  upon  the  church  services.  Methodism 
in  Newport  is  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Sherman.  He  was  converted 
in  the  revival  which  swept  the  city  during  Joel  Knight's  ministry  in 
1843- 

Seth  Swinburne  has  been  identified  with  the  church  from  the  first, 
and  has  had  various  official  positions,  being  at  the  present  time  Secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

E.  S.  Hildreth,  the  first  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school, 
still  lives  and  attends  the  preaching  services,  in  spite  of  deafness,  which 
makes  it  impossible  for  him  to  hear  a  single  word.  T.  Fred  Kaull 
is  the  present  efficient  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


123 


MISS  PHOEBE  TEW. 
Kpworth   League   President. 


PASTORS. 

1855-56. 
1857-58- 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-65. 
1866-67. 
1868-69. 
1870-71. 
1872-73. 

I874-75- 

1876-77. 

1878-79. 

1880-82. 

1883-85. 

1886. 

1887. 

1888-89. 

1890-91. 

1892-94. 

1895-96. 

1897. 


Ormando  N.  Brooks 
Edward  A.  Lyon 
William  H.  Richards 
William  Livesey 
Edward  A.   Lyon 
Frederick  Upham 
Asa  N.  Bodfish 
Benjamin  A.  Chase 
Edwin  F.  Jones 
Shadrach  Leader 
William  T.  Harlow 
Oliver  H.  Fernald 
Samuel  J.  Canoll 
Edgar  F.  Clark 
Francis  D.  Blakeslee^ 
Orange  W.  Scott 
William  I.  Ward 
George  W.  Hunt 
Hopkins  B.  Cady 
James  H.  McDonald 
George  E.  Brightman 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — F.  B.  Garnett,  Augustin  C.  Titus,  Edward  W.  Young, 
Seth  Swinburne,  T.  Fred  Kaull,  Charles  D.  Martin,  Robert  S.  Bur- 
lingame,  Maurice  Albro. 

Stewards — Edward  W.  Young,  Charles  H.  Seatle,  Joshua  B. 
Bacheller,  John  B.  Mason,  Charles  S.  Sherman,  Charles  S.  Goddard, 
George'  N.  Tozier,  Thomas  S.  Bowler,  James  G.  Albro,  James  T. 
Harden,  Samuel  T.  H.  Ailman,  Robert  S.  Burlingame. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  T.  Fred  Kaull;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, James  Albro;  Secretaries,  Dudley  P.  Bacheller,  Joseph  P. 
Garnett;  Librarians,  W.  Murley  Mills,  James  Marden;  Organist, 
Phoebe  A.  Tew. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Isaac  J.  Barker,  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Paddock,  Mrs. 
Charles  S.  Goddard,  Mrs.  T.  Fred  Kaull,  Mrs.  Charles  D.  Martin,  Mrs. 
Thomas  G.  Owen,  Mrs.  James  F.  Marden,  Mrs.  George  E.  Brightman, 
Mrs.  James  G.  Albro,  Mrs.  Seth  Swinburne,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Burlingame, 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Tozier,  Mrs.  Harry  C.  Kaull,  Mrs.  Aug.  C  Titus,  Mrs. 
William  Frank,  Miss  Annie  T.  Gilpin,  Miss  Lizzie  Kaull,  Miss 
May  A.  Anthony,  Miss  Phoebe  Tew,  Miss  Lillie  Tew,  Miss  Minnie 
Goddard,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Kincaid,  F.  B.  Garnett,  Seth  Swinburne,  Isaac 
W.  Sherman,  Charles  D.  Martin,  Charles  F.  Paddock,  James  F.  Mar- 
den. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Phoebe  A.  Tew;  First  Vice- 
President,  Charles  D.  Martin;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Charles 
S.  Goddard;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Kincaid;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  W.  M.  Mills;  Secretary,  Miss  Clara  Peckham;  Treasurer, 
Mrs.  Charles  D.  Martin. 


SWEDISH  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NEWPORT,  R.  I. 


THE  SWEDISH  CHURCH. 


Rev.  N.  Eklund,  pastor  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  preached  in  Newport 
in  private  house  3  Division  street,  September  23,  1884,  and  soon  after 
the  Young-  Men's  Christian  Association  Hall  was  rented,  where  Mr. 

Eklund   and    others   continued    preaching 
every  week  for  about  one  year  and  a  half. 

In  the  spring  of  1886  Rev.  H.  Hanson 
was  stationed  in  Newport,  being  the  first 
pastor  of  this  church.  The  church  was  or- 
ganized July  24,  1886,  when  the  first  quar- 
terly conference  was  held  by  Rev.  D.  A. 
Jordan,  Presiding  Elder.  Mr.  Hanson  was 
the  preacher  in  charge  up  to  the  Confer- 
ence, 1888.  During  his  time  the  church, 
too,  received  Mrs.  Mary  A.  King,  and  the 
church  building  was  commenced. 

After  Mr.  Hanson  came  Rev.  Axel  Z. 
Fryxell,  in  the  spring  of  1888,  and  the 
church  building  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated the  following  year  by  Bishop  Hurst,  when  $1,200  in  all  was  paid 
on  the  building.  Mr.  Fryxell  continued  one  year,  nearly  to  the  spring1, 
1889. 

After  him  came  Rev.  C.  A.  Cederberg,  and  continued  his  service 
here  nearly  one  year  and  a  half,  to  the  fall,  1890.  He  raised  $557  for 
the  church  debt. 

After  Mr.  Cederberg  came  Mr.  Forsgren,  a  local  preacher,  who 
supplied  for  six  or  seven  months,  up  to  the  Conference,  1891,  when 
Rev.  H.  Olson  came  and  was  the  pastor  up  to  the  Conference,  1893. 
When  Mr.  Olson  came  there  was  a  debt  on  the  church  property  of 
$2,200,  and  no  Sunday  School;  but  that  good  man  raised  money  and 
paid  the  whole  debt,  organized  a  good  Sunday  School,  and  the  mem- 
bership more  than  doubled. 

In  1893,  at  the  Conference,  Rev.  Charles  Paulson  carne  here  and 
did  a  good  work,  up  to  the  Conference  in  Fall  River,  1896,  when 
Rev.  Konrad  R.  Hartwig  came  here,  transferred  from  New  England 
Conference. 

The  church  is  located  at  Annandale  Road,  a  beautiful  place  in  the 
summer  time. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Charles  Nordstrom,  Chairman;  Aran  Anderson,  Treas- 
urer; Carl  Lind,  Secretary;  Gust  Westerdahl,  Aug  Erikson. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


125 


Stewards — Charles  Nordstrom  (R.  S.),  Aran  Anderson  (D.  S.), 
Gust  Westerdahl. 

Class  Leaders — Charles  Nordstrom,  Gust  Westerdahl. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mrs.  Jennie  Hartwig;  First  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Hanborg;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Alma  Fohlin; 
Third  Vice-President,  Rev.  K.  R.  Hartwig;  Secretary,  Miss  Esther 
Anderson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Charles  Nordstrom. 

Teachers — Rev.  K.  R.  Hartwig,  Carl  Lind,  Charles  Nordstrom, 
Miss  Esther  Anderson;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Heliva  Erikson;  Secretary, 
Miss  Heldur  Nordstrom. 


CENTRAL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  NORTH  EASTON,  MASS. 

About  1785  Jesse  Lee  is  supposed  to  have  preached  the  first 
Methodist  sermon  in  North  Easton  Village,  very  near  the  site  on 
which  the  church  now  stands.  From  this  first  sermon  Methodism 

grew  into  a  settled  religious 
movement  in  1792,  when 
Jesse  Lee  again  visited 
Easton,  of  which  visit  he 
says:  "I  rode  to  Brother 
Stokes',  in  Easton,  and 
met  the  class  at  five 
o'clock."  He  makes  men- 
tion of  two  other  visits,  in 
1793  and  1795. 

In  1795  the  church  was 
organized,  a  lot  of  land  was 
purchased,    and    a    church 
NORTH  EASTON  CHURCH.  edifice  built  on  the  corner 

of    Washington    and    Elm' 

streets.  Bishop  Asbury  was  present  at  its  dedication.  From  1795  to 
1845,  a  period  of  fifty  years,  the  church  was  favored  with  preaching 
and  pastoral  supervision  by  many  noble  men  of  God 

From  1845  to  1856  the  Washington  Street  Church  had  no  con- 
nection with  the  Conference,  and  "there  was  a  steady  decline  of  in- 
terest" throughout  this  period  of  eleven  years.  During  this  time  the 
church  was  served  by  Revs.  James  Hall,  John  B.  Clough,  1850;  Lo- 
renzo White,  1851;  Paul  Townsend.  In  1857  the  church  renewed  its 
connection  with  the  Conference,  and  Rev.  John  B.  Hunt  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  charge,  and  a  blessed  and  extensive  revival  of  religion 


126 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY, 


was  enjoyed,  which  has  not  been  equalled  in  this  town  up  to  this  date 

(1897). 

In  1859  Lewis  B.  Bates  was  appointed  to  the  Washington  Street 

Church,  and  during  the  year  efforts  were  made  to  establish  a  church 
in  North  Easton  Village,  which  were  successful  in  1860,  when  the 
bishop  re-appointed  Mr.  Bates  to  Washington  Street  Church,  but  in 
a  few  weeks  after  Conference  removed  him  to  the  Village  church. 
After  Mr.  Bates  left  the  Washington  Street  Church,  he  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Spilsted.  He  was  followed  in  1861  by  Franklin 


REV.  H.  D.   ROBINSON. 


MRS.  H.  D.  ROBINSON. 


Gavitt;  1862,  Abel  Alton;  1863,  H.  S.  Smith;  1866,  Freeman  Ryder; 
1868,  J.  B.  Washburn;  1870,  Elisha  Dunham;  1873,  M.  M.  Kugler; 
1875,  S.  Hamilton  Day;  1877,  J-  H.  Nelson;  1878,  M.  F.  Colburn. 
It  is  impossible  in  this  brief  history  to  give  even  a  meagre  description 
of  the  excellent  work  done  by  these  men. 

In  1861  the  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison  was  appointed  to  the  Village 
church,  which  was  yet  unorganized.  He  proceeded  at  once,  and  with 
great  care,  to  organize  a  new  church,  and  at  the  Quarterly  Conference 
held  in  North  Easton,  August  31,  1861,  he  made  the  following  report: 
"I  have  completed  the  work  of  organizing  the  church  on  the  plan  pro- 
posed by  the  bishop." 

For  a  few  years  after  the  organization,  services  were  held  in 
Ripley's  Hall.  In  1864  a  church  was  built  on  Main  street,  in  which 
worship  was  conducted  for  twelve  years.  In  1876  Mr.  Oliver  Ames 
made  a  generous  present  of  the  church  vacated  by  the  Unitarian 
Society  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  on  condition  that  they 
would  move  it  and  put  it  in  good  order  without  incurring  a  debt. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


127 


The  condition  was  promptly  and  thankfully  complied  with,  and  the 
church  was  moved  to  where  it  now  stands  on  Mechanic  street,  and 
was  dedicated  December  28,  1876,  the  sermon  being'  preached  by 
the  Rev.  Lewis  B.  Bates,  D.  D.  The  church  is  known  by  the  name 
of  "Central  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,"  with  which  the  old  church 
has  united,  and  mother  and  daughter  are  living  happily  together. 


J.   E.    SHEPHARDSON. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


MISS  JENNIE  E.   SHEPHARDSON. 
Epworth   League  President. 


PASTORS. 

1800.          Joseph  Snelling  1835. 

Solomon  Langdon  1836. 

1806.  Nehemiah  Coy  1&39- 

1807.  Thomas  Perry  1840. 

1808.  Samuel  Cutler  1841. 

1809.  John  Tinkham  1842. 

1811.  Artemas  Stebbins  1843. 

1812.  Theophilus  Smith  1844. 

1813.  Francis  Dane  1845. 
J.  F.  Chamberlain 

1825.  Charles  Virgin  1861. 
Hiram  Walden  1862. 

1826.  Phineas   Peck  1863. 

1827.  Ebenezer  Blake  1864. 

1828.  Elias  Scott  1865-66. 

1829.  Lewis  Bates  1867-68. 

1831.  John  Lovejoy  1869. 
D.  S.  King  1870. 

1832.  Lemuel  Harlow  1871. 

1833.  Warren  Emerson  1872. 


Thomas  Stetson 
Amos  Binney 
John  Bailey 
Nathan  Payne 
Edward  Lyons 
Joel  Steele 
William  Holmes 
Franklin  Fisk 
Nathaniel  Bemis 
Mr.  Worcester 
W.  V.  Morrison 
Charles  Hammond 
C.  C.  Adams 
F.  A.  Loomis 
Edward  Edson 
J.  B.  Husted 
George  H.  Bates 
J  H.  Humphrey 
Charles  W.  Dreese 
Joseph   Hammond 


I2g  SOLTEN1R  HISTORY. 


Jonn  Faville  1884-86.  Merrick  Ransom 

1874.  John  Jones  1887-88.  Lewis  Bates  Codding 

1875.  W.  J.  Hodges  1889-90.  Frederick  C.  Baker 
J.  S.  Daviis  1891-93.  Charles  N.  Hinckley 
S.  E.  Evans  1894-96.  Robert  S.  Moore 

1880.          William  Kirkby  1897.  Henry  D.   Robinson 
1882.          J.  S.  Thomas 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — S.  S.  Ryder,  George  H.  Wells,  J.  W.  Dickerman, 
H.  H.  Holt,  W.  E.  Whitten,  Fred  A.  Conant,  J.  E.  Shepardson, 
Alexander  Earle,  Miss  Lizzie  Randall,  Mrs.  Louise  Thayer,  Mrs. 
Minnie  E.  Fitton,  D.  B.  Tinkham. 

Trustees—].  W.  Dickerman,  E.  W.  Randall,  D.  B.  Tinkham,  J.  E. 
Shepardson,  H.  B.  Waite,  S.  S.  Ryder,  George  H.  Wells,  George  H. 
De  Witt,  H.  H.  Holt. 

Sunday  School — J.  E.  Shepardson,  Superintendent;  George  H. 
Wells,  Assistant  Superintendent;  Miss  Ella  M.  Packard,  Secretary; 
Miss  Lettie  Lincoln,  Treasurer;  Miss  Mira  E.  Randall,  Librarian; 
Miss  Jennie  E.  Shepardson,  Organist. 

Teachers — J.  W.  Dickerman,  Alexander  Earle,  Miss  Lizzie  Ran- 
dall, Mrs.  Minnie  E.  Fitton,  Mrs.  Myra  C.  Ryder,  George  H.  Wells, 
Mrs.  Louise  H.  Thayer,  William  A.  Hall,  Miss  Jennie  E.  Shepardson, 
Miss  M.  W.  Lillie,  H.  D.  Robinson. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Jennie  E.  Shepardson;  First 
Vice-President,  S.  S.  Ryder;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Louise  H. 
Thayer;  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Ella  M.  Packard;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Myra  C.  Ryder;  Secretary,  George  H.  Wells;  Treas- 
urer, Fred  A.  Conant. 


FIRST    M.    E.    CHURCH,    PAWTUCKET,    R.    I. 


Methodism  took  form  in  this  place  when  a  class  was  organized 
in  1822.  Occasional  preaching  in  the  "old  red  schoolhouse"  and  in 
private  houses  had  prepared  the  way,  and  five  years  later  the  charge 
received  its  first  preacher,  the  Rev.  O.  Robbins. 

The  first  meeting-house  was  built  during  the  ministry  of  Israel 
Washburn,  a  local  preacher  whose  name  should  be  held  in  lasting 
honor. 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH. 


Robert  M.  Hatfield  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference of  this  church,  and  was  appointed  its  pastor  at  the  ensuing 
Annual  Conference  of  1841.  A  new  church  was  a  necessity  under  such 
a  pastorate,  and  on  August  10,  1842,  the  new  church,  standing  on  the 
original  site,  was  dedicated  to  God. 

This  organization  is  rightly  named  the  Mother  Church,  for  three 
vigorous  societies  owe  their  origin  to  her  zeal  and  enterprise. 

Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  H.  Ela,  meetings  were  held  in  East 
Attleboro,  and  the  work  was  greatly  furthered  by  the  zeal  of  a  young 


130 


HISTORY 


preacher,  the  Rev.  I.  J.  Lansing.  Conversions  were  many,  a  strong 
society  was  formed,  and  the  present  Attleboro  church  is  a  result  of 
that  enterprise.  Under  the  same  pastorate,  meeting's  were  held  in 
Central  Falls.  This  was  in  1865.  A  school  was  soon  formed,  and 
three  years  later  a  class  was  organized,  a  quarterly  conference  insti- 
tuted, and,  with  a  goodly  number  of  the  members  of  the  mother  society 
taking  their  letters  to  the  new  enterprise,  the  Embury  Church  became 
an  assured  success. 


THE    FIRST    CHURCH    PARSONAGE. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  E,  D.  Hall,  began 
preaching  in  the  Fairmount  engine  house,  and  a  class  was  formed 
and  soon  a  Sunday  school.  In  1870  the  enterprise  had  proved  so  vig- 
orous that  an  edifice  was  built,  and  thus  again  the  mother  church  sent 
out  a  strong  contingent  to  form  what  was  to  be  known  as  the  Thomp- 
son Church. 

That  a  whole  generation  should  pass  without  any  new  societies 
formed  by  the  church  may  not  be  surprising  if  we  consider  that  the 
work  already  begun  needed  to  be  established,  and  much  of  the  increase 
in  population  has  been  of  those  who  adhere  to  another  religion. 

The  Sunday  school  of  this  church  was  organized  in  1830.  Since 
1856  but  two  superintendents  have  served.  In  1870  the  present  and 
popular  superintendent,  Alonzo  J.  Nickerson,  was  elected,  and  has 
continued  for  twenty-seven  years  in  the  office. 

The  old  church  building  proving  inadequate  for  the  society,  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


present  commodious  structure  on  the  historic  site  was  erected  and 
dedicated  in  the  closing-  days  of  the  five  years'  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
P.  M.  Vinton. 


A.  J.   NICKERSON. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
I830. 
I83I. 
I832. 

1833. 
I834. 
1835. 
1837. 


Onesiphorus   Robbins 
Israel  Washburn 
James   Porter 
Israel  Washburn 
David  Culver 
Francis   Dane 
Benjamin  Payne 
Hiram  Cummings 
William  P.  White 
S.  W.  Coggshall 
William  Simmons 


PASTORS. 

1838. 
1839. 
1840. 

1841-42. 

1843. 

1844-45. 

1846-48. 

1849. 


1850-51. 

1852-53- 
1854. 

1855-56. 

1857- 

1858-59. 

1860. 

1861. 

1862-63. 

1864-65. 

1866-67. 

1868. 

1869-70. 

1871-72. 

I873-75- 
1876-77. 
1878-80. 
1881-83. 
1884-85. 
1886-89. 
1890-94. 
1895. 


Reuben  Bowen 
Samuel  Beadle 
William  H.  Richards 
W.  H.  Woodbury 
R.  M.  Hatfield 
Franklin  Gavitt 
Jonathan  Cady 
Isaac  Bonney 
Henry  Baylies 
John  E.  Gifford 
William  Cone 
Henry  H.  Smith 
James  Dean 
James  Mather 
John  Lovejoy 
Samuel  F.  Upham 
Sidney  Dean 
Andrew  McKeown 
John  D.  King 
David  H.  Ela 
James  D.  Butler 
M.  J.  Talbot 
E.  D.  Hall 
Samuel  L.  Gracey 
J.  W.  Willett 
E.  F.  Jones 
H.  B.  Cady 
G.  S.  Morse 
G.  W.  Anderson 
A.  W.   Kingsley 
P.  M.  Vinton 
C.  W.  Holden 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — A.  J.  Nickerson,  C.  C.  Burnham,  T.  C.  Fuller,  James 
Wilson,  M.  F.  Whipple,  C.  F.  Burnham,  O.  F.  Currier,  Reuben  War- 
burton,  E.  M.  Arnold. 

Stewards — T.  C  Fuller  (R.  S.),  George  E.  Polsey,  J.  F.  Bowers, 
Arthur  Overton,  J.  L.  Perrin,  J.  W.  Ramsbottom,  Reuben  Warburton, 
Mrs.  O.  F.  Currier,  Mark  Eastwood,  George  Boadbent,  J.  L.  Ingra- 
ham,  Charles  H.  Burt. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  A.  J.  Nickerson;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, W.  H.  Worrell;  Secretary,  J.  L.  Ingraham;  Treasurer, 
Herbert  Horton;  Assistant  Librarian,  Arthur  Fitton;  Periodicals, 
B.  O.  Currier. 


132 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Epworth  League— President,  Miss  Emily  Wilson;  Vice-Presidents, 
Mrs.  J.  L.  Ingraham,  Mr.  J.  L.  Ingraham,  Miss  Maud  Watson;  Secre- 
tary,' Richard  Fitton ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Maria  Fitton. 

Junior  League— Superintendent,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Ingraham;  President, 
Thomas  W.  Winstanley;  Vice-Presidents,  Leon  Warburton,  Adella 
Minor,  Holley  T.  Hatch;  Secretary,  Bertha  Hawkhead;  Treasurer, 
Florence  M.  Northup. 


THOMPSON   M.   E.    CHURCH,   PAWTUCKET,   R.    I. 
By  a  Friend  of  the  Church. 

As  Pawtucket  began  to  grow  out  of  her  village  life  into  a  city, 
the  First  Methodist  Church  anticipated  the  drift  of  population  and 
in  1870  planted  a  mission  in  a  then  open  section  of  the  city.  The 
origin  of  Thompson  Church  is  thus  referred  to  in  the  Presiding  Elder's 


REV.    W.    L.ENOIR   HOOD. 


A.   A.   THOMPSON. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


report  of  1870:  "The  church  at  Pawtucket  (First  Church),  true  to  its 
old  aggressive  instincts,  has  during  the  last  year  organized  a  mission 
Sunday  school  at  Fairmount,  which  has  already  outgrown  its  ac- 
commodations; and  a  large,  eligibly  located  lot  has  been  purchased 
for  the  erection  of  a  chapel."  Accordingly,  Rev.  Edwin  D.  Hall  was 


SOUl/ENIR  HISTORY.  I3~ 

sent  to  cultivate  this  new  field,  and  he  labored  not  in  vain,  and  the 
Presiding  Elder's  report  for  1871  contains  the  following:  "Two  church 
edifices  have  been  erected  the  past  year,  one  of  which — that  at  Paw- 
tucket — is  a  chapel,  which  must  soon  be  replaced  by  a  church." 

"The  Pawtucket  (First)  Church  has  contributed  some  $1,600 
towards  the  new  chapel  in  that  village." 

Again  in  his  report  in  1872  he  says:  "Thompson  Church 
edifice,  at  Pawtucket,  has  been  erected,  and  its  lecture  room  prepared 
for  occupancy,  by  the  earnest  and  generous  exertions  of  friends  in 
that  place." 

John  C.  Cowan  was  next  pastor,  1873-74.  He  found  the  church 
burdened  with  debt.  He  began  to  raise  the  amount  and  succeeded, 
for  in  the  Elder's  report  for  1874  we  read:  "Several  churches  have 
been  relieved  from  the  incubus  oi  debt.  *  *  Thompson  (Paw- 
tucket), $3,000." 

Robert  Clark  was  the  third  pastor.  The  debt  having  been  re- 
moved, the  spiritual  interests  prospered.  Again  the  Elder's  report  for 
1875  says:  "In  some  places  revivals  have  been  attended  with  unusual 
power.  Particular  mention  may  be  made  of  Mystic,  East  Greenwich, 
Attleboro,  Bristol,  Thompson  Church,  Pawtucket,"  etc. 

During  Charles  S.  Morse's  pastorate  continued  prosperity  at- 
tended the  church.  The  Elder's  report  for  1877  says:  "The  people 
of  Thompson  Church,  Pawtucket,  are  finishing  their  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  will  require  an  outlay  of  more  than  $4,000."  His  report 
for  1878  says:  "The  people  at  Thompson  charge,  Pawtucket,  have 
completed  and  dedicated  their  house  of  worship." 

Rev.  S.  T.  Patterson  (1879-80)  found  the  young,  ambitious  so- 
ciety struggling  with  a  great  debt,  but  by  his  faithful  work  the  church 
grappled  heroically  with  its  burden.  The  Elder's  1880  report  speaks 
out  plainly  thus:  "Debts  remain  on  some  of  the  church  properties 
to  such  an  amount  as  to  embarrass  the  operations  in  every  department 
of  church  work.  *  *  *  Efforts  have  been  made,  with  success, 
to  remove  these  hindrances,  in  several  instances,  the  past  year.  * 
Thompson  Church,  Pawtucket,  which  was  apparently  at  the  point  of 
fatal  disaster  a  year  ago,  has  been  so  far  relieved,  through  the  per- 
severing efforts  of  Brother  S.  T.  Patterson,  the  pastor,  that  ordinary 
prudence  will  prevent  the  recurrence  of  such  peril." 

For  several  years  the  church  struggled  with  its  load  of  debt,  till 
some  hearts  began  to  despair.  Accordingly  in  1881  and  1882,  dis- 
aster was  so  near  that  First  Church  once  more  took  the  child  under 
her  care,  and  one  pastor  served  both  churches.  Thus  the  Elder's 
report  in  1882  tells  the  "whole  truth"  thus: 


I34  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

"The  interest  of  the  mortgage  on  Thompson  Church,  Pawtucket, 
having  fallen  in  arrears,  it  was  threatened,  in  the  autumn,  with  fore- 
closure and  sale,  and,  owing  to  lack  of  financial  ability  in  the  society, 
the  trustees  of  the  First  Church  generously  came  to  its  relief,  and 
agreed  to  be  responsible  for  the  debt,  on  condition  that  the  Thomp- 
son Church  would  surrender  its  separate  existence  and  become  a  part 
of  the  First  Church  charge,  which  proposition  was  gladly  accepted. 
Rev.  W.  H.  Stetson  resigned  the  pastorate  of  Thompson  and  Rev. 
G.  A.  Morse  has  since  had  the  pastoral  care  of  the  united  church, 
holding  separate  services,  and  attending  to  the  double  work  with  a 
promising  prospect  that  Thompson  Church  will  emerge  from  its  em- 
barrassments in  due  time  and  become  strong  and  successful." 

In  1883  to  1885  John  Thompson  served  the  church  as  pastor.  A 
new  era  of  prosperity  dawned.  The  Elder's  1886  report  reads:  "Reno- 
vation and  repairs  *  *  Thompson  church,  Pawtucket,  $375." 

The  next  pastorate  deserving  of  special  mention  was  that  of  Rev. 
J.  H.  Newland,  1890-92.  This  was  marked  by  a  liberal  revival  and 
great  temporal  prosperity. 

The  Elder's  report  for  1891  contains  the  following:  "Brother  New- 
land  of  Thompson  church,  Pawtucket,  was  electrified  recently  by  the 
proposition  of  Mr.  George  D.  Fowler,  a  Congregationalist,  to  give 
$2,000  towards  the  indebtedness  of  his  church,  provided  the  remainder, 
about  $500,  should  be  raised  before  conference.  He  flew  to  the  can- 
vass and  in  a  few  days  the  entire  debt  was  cancelled  and  several  hun- 
dred dollars  more  wrere  raised  for  needed  repairs."  The  same  source 
in  1892  says:  "Thompson  church,  Pawtucket,  has  thoroughly  renovated 
its  house  of  worship  at  a  cost  of  $750." 

Rev.  S.  M.  Beale's  pastorate  (1894-96)  was  marked  by  steady 
progress  and  a  deepening  of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  church. 

In  1897  the  present  minister,  Rev.  W.  L.  Hood,  became  pastor, 
and  with  his  characteristic  energy  has  added  much  to  the  attractiveness 
of  the  vestry  by  giving  it  a  thorough  renovation.  He  is  also  urging  a 
change  of  name  from  Thompson  to  "Mineral  Spring  Avenue  church," 
and  additional  improvements. 

The  church  is  located  in  a  rapidly  growing  part  of  the  city  and  is 
destined  to  become  one  of  the  strong  churches  of  the  city  in  future 
years.  Underneath  the  auditorium  is  a  large  vestry  with  Epworth 
League  room,  class  room  and  culinary  department.  The  church  is 
easily  reached  by  electrics. 

PASTORS. 
1871-72.     Edwin  D.  Hall  1873-74.     John  C.  Gowan 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


1875-76- 

1877-78. 

1879-80. 

1881. 

1882. 

1883-85. 


Robert  Clark 
C.  S.  Morse 
S.  T.  Patterson 
W.  H.  Stetson 
George  A.  Morse 
John  Thompson 


1886-87. 
1888-89. 
1890-92. 
1893. 
1894-96. 
1897. 


A.  Anderson 
J.  W.  Willett 
J.  H.  Newland 
H.  D.  Robinson 
S.  M.  Beale 
W.  Lenoir  Hood 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — A.  A.  Thompson,  P.  W.  Chase,  H.  C.  Rice,  J.  G.  Davis, 
C.  C.  Gloyd,  J.  Baine,  E,  S.  Adams. 

Stewards — C.  C.  Gloyd  (R.  S.),  A.  A.  Thompson,  T.  J.  Gaddis, 
E.  Griffiths,  D.  McMeekin,  H.  C.  Rice,  Frank  Greene,  Mary  Hutton, 
Mrs.  E.  Griffiths,  Philip  Chase,  S.  C.  Wilson,  Harrison  Davis. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  A,  A.  Thompson;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, David  McMeekin;  Secretary,  George  H.  Brown;  Treas- 
urer, Henry  C.  Rice;  Librarian,  Edgar  M.  Beale;  Periodical  Agent, 
Alfred  Hutton. 

Teachers — W.  Lenoir  Hood,  T.  J.  Gaddis,  Mrs.  Smith,  E.  N. 
Griffiths,  D.  McMeekin,  Miss  M.  C.  "Hood,  Miss  McMeekin,  Fred 
Smith,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Thompson,  Mrs.  John  Burton,  Miss  I.  A.  Barney, 
Charles  Gloyd,  Miss  Sarah  Beaumont,  Mrs.  Steere,  Mrs.  Wilson,  Miss 
E.  P.  Whitford,  Mr.  Frank  Greene,  Mr.  C.  Rundlett,  Miss  M.  Whip- 
pie,  Mrs.  Hutton,  Mr.  Harrison  Davis,  Mr.  Fred  Capron,  Miss  Nellie 
Greene. 

Epworth  League — President,  David  McMeekin;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  Mrs.  I.  A.  Barney;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Herbert  Wood; 
Third  Vice-Presideent,  Miss  Nina  Corey;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Minnie  C.  Hood;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Nellie  Green;  Treasurer,  Mr.  George 
Brown;  Pianist.  Miss  Clara  Sherman;  Librarian,  Mr.  Fred  Capron. 


DAVID   McMEEKIN. 

Epworth    Irf'iig'ue    PreHideirt. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  PHENIX,  R.  I. 


By  John  M.  Nye. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  efforts  of  the  Methodists  in  home  mis- 
sionary work,  the  homes  of  those  who  admired  the  heroic  efforts  of  its 
early  preachers  became  the  centres  of  interest  in  Methodism. 

Such  a  centre  was  the  home 
•of  General  Christopher  Lippit, 
in  the  town  of  Cranston,  about 
three  miles  from  the  village 
bearing-  his  name  (Lippit), 
where  he  carried  on  the  business 
of  cotton  manufacturing  after 
his  return  from  the  Revolution- 
ary war. 

While  in  the  war  he  had  his 
attention  called  to  the  Methodist 
preachers  and  their  success,  by  a 
brother  living  in  New  York,  and 
after  his  return  home  he  made 
his  residence  the  headquarters  of 
those  preachers  who  chanced  to 
be  going  to  or  returning  from 
the  conference  held  at  Lynn. 
THE  PHENIX  CHURCH,  His  geniai  hospitality  was 

spoken  of  by  Bishop  Asbury  as  of  one  who  kept  an  open  house  for 
Methodists,  and  whose  home  was  a  resting-place  for  preachers. 
Among  the  early  preachers  who  held  services  here  were  F.  G.  Gar- 
retson,  Daniel  Smith,  Jesse  Lee,  Black  Harry  and  Fran-  cis  Asbury. 

From  1791  this  place  became  one  of  the  best  known  homes  of  the 
itinerancy  and  a  centre  of  Methodist  influence  for  many  years. 

In  1794  a  class  was  formed.  Among  the  names  on  the  list  occur 
those  of  the  Lippits  and  one  Lucy  Brayton. 

In  1800  General  Lippit  built  a  meeting-house  for  the  Methodists 
near  his  residence,  which  was  abandoned  about  twenty-five  years  after, 
owing  to  the  inability  to  raise  a  debt  of  $72  to  pay  a  mortgage.  Here 
exhorters  and  local  preachers  were  licensed  to  extend  the  work.  On 
two  special  occasions  a  number  of  ordinations  occurred  of  those  who 
were  to  occupy  circuits.  The  stand  used  as  a  pulpit  at  these  services 
is  now  at  the  parsonage,  having  been  presented  by  Mary  Lippit  Cong- 
don,  daughter  of  General  Lippit,  to  the  Warwick  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


137 


An  old  resident  thus  describes  General  Lippit:  "On  those  Sun- 
days when  no  one  could  be  secured  to  hold  the  services,  the  General 
would  conduct  them  himself.  On  entering  the  desk  he  would  carefully 
remove  his  boots,  as  he  believed  one  must  be  unshod  in  standing  in 
the  presence  of  his  God.  With  his  long,  white  hair  braided  and  neatly 
tied,  and  the  long,  white  beard  carefully  arranged,  he  presented  such 
an  aspect  of  veneration  when  he  read  Wesley's  sermons,  that  some  of 
the  congregation  were  impressed  with  awe  at  his  prophetic  appear- 
ance." 

In  1813,  Bishop  Asbury,  riding  through  the  villages  of  Phenix 
and  Lippit,  remarked :  "What  a  population,  and  what  a  good  place  to 
preach  Christ!" 


REV.    C.   HARLEY   SMITH.  MRS.    LANTA    WILSON    SMITH, 

Author  of  "Scatter  Sunshine."  and  other  hymns. 

Soon  preaching  services  were  held  at  the  home  of  David  Whee- 
lock,  resulting  in  such  interest  that  Lippit  became  a  centre  of  Metho- 
dism. For  more  than  ten  years  preaching  service  was  held  once  a 
month  at  different  houses,  until  1824,  when  a  class  was  formed  by  Rev. 
C.  P.  Avery. 

In  1830  the  first  Quarterly  Conference  was  held  at  Lippit,  and 
the  estimate  for  Phenix  and  Lippit  was  thirty  dollars.  In  1831,  a 
Sunday  school  was  organized,  which  met  first  at  houses,  then  at  the 
schoolhouse.  From  this  time  various  preachers  were  appointed  to  the 
Warwick  Circuit  until  1839,  when  the  first  Quarterly  Conference  was 
held  in  Phenix,  with  M.  Haywood  preacher  in  charge. 

From  a  record  of  an  estimate  made  in  Quarterly  Conference  Sep- 
tember 18,  1841,  we  find  the  following:  Pastor,  $100;  pastor's  wife, 


138 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


$ico:  table  expenses  of  wife,  $50;  of  pastor,  $15  (the  pastor  must  have 
been  hospitably  entertained  by  parishioners  most  of  the  time);  rent, 
$28;  fuel,  $15;  traveling  expenses,  $7.37.  The  pastor,  J.  C.  Goodrich, 
objected. 

The  Presiding  Elder,  B.  Otheman,  remarked:  "I  have  never  heard 
of  the  table  of  the  pastor  and  wife  being  estimated  separately  before." 
Report  accepted. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  1842,  the  follow- 
ing were  elected  officers:  Daniel  Greene,  President;  Elisha  Harris, 
Secretary;  Nathaniel  Arnold,  Treasurer. 

Measures  were  proposed  to  buy  the  Tatem  meeting-house,  which 
was  done  in  1842. 


SILAS  T.   NYE. 
Epworth   League  President. 


JOHN   M.    NYE. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


Through  the  interest  of  Elisha  Harris,  the  church  prospered 
financially,  and  when  in  1857  it  was  proposed  to  build  the  present  edi- 
fice, he  became  the  prime  mover  in  the  enterprise.  The  building1  was 
completed  and  dedicated  in  1859,  and  upon  his  death  he  endowed  the 
church  with  a  fund  of  four  thousand  dollars,  which  was  increased  by 
a  bequest  of  one  thousand  dollars  from  R.  G.  Atwood.  In  the  years 
which  followed,  the  interest  in  Methodism  continued  to  grow.  At 
various  intervals  revivals  followed.  In  the  period  from  1870  to  1880 
the  church  reached  its  highest  prosperity. 

But  the  population  of  the  village  is  changing.  The  American 
inhabitants  are  moving  to  cities,  while  their  places  are  filled  by  a 
foreign  element  of  a  different  church  belief.  This  affects  the  Methodist 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


139 


church  unfavorably.  Revivals  of  marked  interest  have  occurred  in 
i8?8,  1835,  1840,  1842,  1844,  1847,  J853,  1859,  1867,  1881  and  1892. 

In  1859,  when  the  present  church  was  completed,  a  new  organ  was 
presented  to  the  society  by  Mr.  Henry  Howard.  It  was  while  blow- 
ing this  organ  that  a  small  boy  conceived  a  love  of  and  desire  for  a 
knowledge  of  music,  which  afterwards  developed  him  into  the  late 
Dr.  Eben  Tourgee,  of  world-wide  fame  in  musical  circles,  founder  of 
the  Conservatory  of  Music,  Boston. 

During  the  summer  of  1897  the  church  was  remodelled,  the  cost 
of  the  improvement  being  $850.  An  addition  was  built,  enlarging  the 
platform  of  the  vestry  and  making  room  for  the  removal  of  the  organ 
in  the  main  auditorium  to  the  pulpit  end  of  the  room.  The  platform 
was  enlarged  so  as  to  afford  a  circular  gallery  between  the  organ 
and  pulpit,  where  twenty  singers  may  be  accommodated.  The  space 
where  the  organ  originally  stood  is  converted  into  a  commodious  and 
improved  entrance. 


1839-40. 

1841. 

1842. 

1843- 

1845- 


1846-47. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853-54. 
1855-56. 
1857-58- 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-65. 


PASTORS. 

M.  Hay  good  1866. 

John  C.  Goodridge  1867-69. 

Franklin  Gavitt  1870-71. 

Lemuel  Harlow  1872-73. 

Joseph  McReading  1874. 

Henry  M.  Bridge  1875. 

Micah  J.  Talbot  1876. 

George  W.  Brewster  1877-78. 

Warren  Emerson  1879-80. 

Isaac   Bonney  1881-83. 

E.  H.  Hatfield  1884-85. 

Elijah  T.  Fletcher  1886. 

Philip  Crandon  1887-89. 

Horace  C.  Atwater  1800. 

Charles  Nason  1891-93. 

William  H.  Richards  1894-95. 

Carlos  Banning  1896. 

W.  O.  Cady  1896-97. 
Charles  H.  Titus 


A.  A.  Wright 
George  L.  Westgate 
Charles  Nason 
Henry  D.  Robinson 
Henry  S.  Thompson 
W.  H.  Starr 
Shadrach  Leader 
M.  J.  Talbot 
Walter  Ela 
W.  J.  Smith 
Angelo  Canoll 
C.  H.  .Ewer 
William  H.  Allen 
S.  Hamilton  Day 
Julian  S.  Wadsworth 
John  H.  Allen 
C.  E.  Beals 
C.  H.  Smith 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees— President,  Sylvester  R.  Nicholas;  Secretary,  John  M. 
Nye;  Treasurer,  Frank  Potter,  William  V.  Slocum.  John  Pearce,  John 
Aspinwall,  Charles  T.  Howard,  Martin  Bradford,  John  Hammond. 

Stewards — Leroy  T.  Lawton  (R.  S.),  Everett  E.  Salisbury  (D.  S.), 
Joseph  Pearce,  J.  Ellery  Hudson,  Sylvester  R.  Nicholas,  John  M.  Nye, 
John  Pearce,  William'  W.  Bailey,  William  V.  Slocum,  Thomas  J. 
Colvin. 


140 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  M.  Nye;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Everett  E.  Salisbury;  Secretary,  Everett  E.  Salisbury;  Assist- 
ant Secretaries,  Winfield  Myrick  and  W.  W.  Bailey;  Treasurer,  Irving 
P.  Hudson;  Librarians,  William  B.  Watson,  Herbert  Colvin;  Choris- 
ter, J.  M.  Nye;  Superintendent  of  Primary  Department,  Mrs.  Hattie 
Arnold. 

Teachers — Miss  May  E.  Hudson,  Silas  T.  Nye,  Miss  Lena  Myrick, 
Miss  Carrie  Bradford,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Nye,  John  M.  Nye,  William  H. 
Sterratt,  Mrs.  Abbie  Handy,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Smith,  Miss  Fannie  Myrick, 
Mrs.  George  Sheldon,  Rev.  C.  H.  Smith,  E.  E.  Salisbury. 

Epworth  League — President,  Silas  T.  Nye;  First  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  C.  T.  Briggs;  Second  Vice-President,  Carrie  Bradford;  Third 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Walter  Hill;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Herbert 
Colvin;  Secretary,  Mabel  J.  Ray;  Treasurer,  W.  W.  Bailey. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Rev.  C.  H.  Smith. 

Benevolent  Society — President,  Mrs.  William  V.  Slocum. 


SWEDISH  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PONTTAC,  R.  I. 

The  first  Methodist  meetings  among  the  Swedes  in  Pontiac  date 
from  November,  1889,  ar>d  were  held  in  the  home  of  Sven  Ahlstrom, 


THE   SWEDISH  PONTIAC  CHURCH. 


REV.  SVANTE  MOODY. 


who  became  the  first  class  leader.  This  work  was  begun  and  carried 
forward  by  the  Swedish  church  in  Providence.  In  September,  1892, 
Rev.  Harold  G.  Boivie  took  charge  of  this  mission  and  continued  there 
until  April,  1896,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Svante  Moody.  The  mission  became  a  separate  organization  in  June. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


141 


1893.  The  membership  numbers  37  and  the  Sunday  school  enrolls  40. 
The  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1895  at  a  cost  of  $2300  and  was  ded- 
icated Dec.  1 5th.  Revs.  C.  A.  Cederberg,  C.  Paulson  and  S.  O.  Ben- 
ton  were  the  preachers. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — Charles  Lonn,  Sven  Ahlstrom,  Gustaf  E.  Carlson,  John 
E.  Frank,  August  Axelson. 

Stewards — Mrs.  Hannah  Lonn,  Recording  Steward;  Mrs.  Emma 
Sanzen,  District  Steward;  Miss  Gerda  Almen,  Sven  Ahlstrom. 

Exporter — Gustaf  E.  Carlson. 

Leader — Gustaf  E.  Carlson. 

Sunday  School — Superintendant,  Albin  Holmander. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  PORTSMOUTH,  R.  I. 

In  the  year  1790,  Jesse  Lee,  the  apostle  of  Methodism  in  New 
England,  was  engaged  in  organizing  societies  and  forming  circuits 
in  Connecticut.  Not  limited  by  boundary  lines,  he  crossed  over  into 

Rhode  Island  in  June  of  that 
year.  He  landed  in  Newport, 
where  he  preached,  but  gained 
no  more  than  a  respectful  hear- 
ing. Leaving  Newport,  he 
passed  up  the  island,  crossing 
Narragansett  Bay  to  Bristol,  at 
the  point  now  known  as  Bristol 
Ferry.  He  preached  in  Bristol, 
then  went  to  Warren,  and  then 
to  Providence. 

In  July  of  1/90,  a  conference 
was  held  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  at 
which  Lee  reported  the  initia- 
tive work  done  in  Rhode  Island. 
From  that  conference  Bishop 
Asbury  sent  Lemuel  Smith  to 
form  a  station  in  Rhode 
Island.  He  formed  what  was  called  the  "Providence  Circuit." 
During  this  year  Portsmouth  was  one  of  the  preaching  places.  In 
1791  and  1792  Portsmouth  was  somehow  connected  with  the  East 
Greenwich  and  Warren  circuits.  The  year  following,  1793,  a  Metho- 
dist society  was  organized  in  Portsmouth.  A  full  list  of  the  members 


THE  PORTSMOUTH   CHURCH. 


142 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


cannot  be  given.  Among  them  were  Matthew  Cook  and  wife,  John 
Earle  and  wife,  Peter  Barker  and  wife,  Nathan  Brownell,  John 
Anthony,  and  a  colored  woman  named  Violet,  who  belonged  to  the 
family  of  Matthew  Cook.  The  home  of  Matthew  Cook  was  the  first 
preaching  place.  It  was  dedicated  to  divine  service  by  Bishop  Asbury, 
Jesse  Lee,  John  Chalmers,  Zadoc  Priest,  Daniel  Ostrander,  John 
Broadhead  and  George  Rich,  a  layman  of  blessed  memory.  The 
society  grew  so  rapidly  that  a  more  commodious  place  became  neces- 
sary. An  unfinished!  dwelling-house  was  purchased,  fitted  up  with 
pulpit,  seats  and  galleries  on  three  sides.  This  unpretentious  building 
served  the  society  for  forty  years,  having  been  improved  in  1806  under 


REV.    J.   N.    GEISLER. 


WILLIAM  EARLE  COOKE, 

101  yrs.  old.  member  of  Official  Board  77  yrs. 


the  direction  of  Rev.  Levi  Walker.  In  1834  it  was  further  improved 
by  Rev.  George  H.  Winchester.  But  the  numbers  grew  so  rapidly 
that  a  new  building  was  necessary.  Consequently,  in  1838,  Jonathan 
Cady  was  appointed  to  this  circuit.  His  first  work  was  to  secure  the 
election  erf  a  Board  of  Trustees,  according  to  the  Discipline  of  the 
church.  This  Board  consisted  of  the  following  persons :  Oliver  Brow- 
nell, Jonathan  Tallman,  William  Earle  Cook  (still  living  in  the  iO2d 
year  of  his  age),  John  B.  Cook,  John  Tallman,  Joseph  B.  Cory,  Ben- 
jamin Tallman,  John  S.  Biownell  and  Barzillai  Fish.  The  building 
committee  were  Jonathan  Cady,  John  B.  Cook  and  William  Earle 
Cook.  They  purchased  the  lot  on  which  the  church  now  stands, 
paying  for  it  $120.50. 

In  August  of  1838,  ground  was  broken  for  the  new  church.    Octo- 
ber 9th  the  frame  of  the  building  was  dedicated  by  Dr.   Frederick 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY, 


Upham,  who  was  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district,  and  on  the  25th  of 
December  the  finished  house  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Phineas  Crandall 
of  Fall  River.  The  cost  of  the  house  was  $2,020.  For  fifty-nine  years 
this  house  served  as  a  place  of  worship,  with  but  few  improvements. 
In  1890  it  was  greatly  enlarged  and  improved  under  the  direction  of 
Brother  B.  F.  Simon. 

Spiritually  and  numerically,  the  society  has  been  subject  to  great 
fluctuations.  Great  revivals  and  great  depressions  have  followed  in 
regular  order.  The  society  is  as  large  now  as  ever  in  its  history.  It 
has  enjoyed  a  steady  growth  for  several  years.  Its  prosperity  might 


H.   CHESTER   HEDLEY. 
Epworth   League   President. 


THOMAS  D.   FULLER. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


have  been  greater  during  these  recent  years  but  for  the  disintegrat- 
ing influence  of  Christian  Alliance  ideas. 

Portsmouth  is  a  beautiful  suburb  of  Newport.  The  electric  car 
line  will  shortly  connect  this  place  with  Newport  and  Fall  River. 
The  line  of  the  electric  will  pass  directly  by  the  church  door,  making 
it  easy  of  access.  The  prospects  for  the  church  in  the  future  are 
bright.  May  she  prove  worthy  of  her  illustrious  past. 


PASTORS. 

1792-  Lemuel  Smith 

1793-  Philip  Wagger  1797. 
David  Pitt 

John  Chalmers  T79&. 

Zadoc  Priest  T799- 

Cyrus  Stebbins 
1796.  Daniel  Ostrander 


James  Snelling 
Daniel   Chapin 
Wesley  Budd 
John  Broadhead 
Ezekiel  Canfield 
Joshua  Hall 
Truman  Bishop 


144 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1800. 
1801. 

1802. 


1803-4. 


1805. 


1806. 

1807. 

1808-9. 

1810-11. 

1812. 

1813. 

1814. 

1815. 

1816-17. 

1818-19. 

1820. 

1821. 

1822. 

1823. 

1824. 
1825. 

1826. 

1827-28. 
1829. 

1830. 
1831. 

1832. 

1833. 

1834- 
1835- 


Joshua  Hall  1836. 

John  Finnegan  J&37. 

Daniel  Fiddler  1838-39. 

Reuben  Hubbard  1840. 

Caleb  Norris  1841. 

Albert  H.  Cobb  1842. 

Alexander  McLane  1843. 

Dyer   Burge  1844. 

Clement  Parker  1845. 

Joseph   Snelling  1846. 

Nehemiah  Coye  1847. 

Ebenezer  Esty  1848. 

Levi  Walker  1849-50. 

Joshua  Crowell  1851-52. 

Levi  Walker  i%53- 
Nehemiah  Coye 

Asa  Kent  1854. 

Benj.  F.  Lambord  1855. 

Edward  Hyde  1856. 

William  Marsh  1857. 

Benj.  R.  Hoyt  1858-59. 

Jason  Walker  1860. 

John  Lindsey  1861. 

Nathan  Payne  1862. 

Daniel  Dorchester  1863. 

Isaac  Stoddard  1864. 

Isaac  Stoddard  1865. 

J.  W.  Case  1866-67. 

Daniel  Webb  1868. 

Milton  French  1869. 

Joel  McKee  1870-71. 

Newell  S.  Spaulding  1872. 

Nathan  Spaulding  T8/3- 

David  Culver  1874-76. 

Asahel  Otis  1877-78. 

Reuben  Ransom  1879-81. 

John  W.  Case  1882. 

William  Livesey  1884-85. 

Samuel  Heath  '  1883. 

Thomas  W.  Tucker  1886. 
Onesiphorus  Robbins      1887. 

Samuel   Drake  1888-91. 
George  H.  Winchester    1892-94. 

Supplied  1895-97. 
J.  S.  Standish 


Josiah  Litch 
Proctor  Marsh 
Jonathan  Cady 
Chester  W.  Turner 
No  Pastor 
Charles  Noble 
George  W.  Carpenter 
Ebenezer  Blake 
George  W.  Wooding 
William  Cone 
George  Burnham 
Lawton  Cady 
Nathan  Payne 
J.  B.  Weeks 
Charles    Hammond 
George  C.  Bancroft 
George  C.  Bancroft 
Asa  N.   Bodfish 
Henry  Mayo 
Silas  S.  Cummings 
Caleb  M.  Alvord 
G.  M.  Hamlen 
Henry  H.  Smith 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 
T.  B.  Gurney 

C.  M.  Alvord 
S.  Y.  Wallace 
John  E.  Gilford 
William  O.  Cady 
Paul   Townsend 
Oliver  H.  Pernald 
Elijah  F.  Smith 

D.  M.  Rogers 
John  G.  Gammons 
C.  P.  McFarland 
S.  P.  Snow 

No  Pastor 
W.  H.  Allen 
Heflin  S.  Smith 
C.  T.  Hatch 
James  Tregaskis 
B.  F.  Simon 
G.  H.  Butler 
J.  N.  Geisler 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — William  E.  Cook,  Lorenzo  D.  Tallman.  Philip  B. 
Chace,  R.  M.  Wyatt,  Willard  S.  Brayton,  Albert  Sisson,  R.  S.  Chace, 
George  F.  Grinnell,  Marion  S.  Olevia. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


145 


Stewards — William  E.  Cook,  Philip  B.  Chace,  Lorenzo  D.  Tall- 
man,  Albert  Sisson,  James  B.  Ashley,  Robert  M.  Wyatt,  John  S.  Free- 
born,  Henry  Hedley,  Benjamin  F.  Pierce,  Herbert  S.  Grinnell,  Sil- 
vanus  P.  Fish,  George  A.  Faulkner,  John  W.  Franklin. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Thomas  D.  Fuller;  Assistant, 
Willard  S.  Bray  ton;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Emily  Chace; 
Librarian,  H.  Chester  Hedley. 

Teachers— The  Pastor,  P.  B.  Chace,  Mrs.  P.  B.  Chace,  W.  S. 
Brayton,  R.  M.  Wyatt,  Miss  Ella  D.  Chace,  Mrs.  Henry  Hedley,  Mrs. 
Giles  Davol,  Miss  Kate  L.  Durfee,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Chace, 

Epworth  League — President,  H.  Chester  Hedley;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Herbert  S.  Grinnell;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Ella  D. 
Chace;  Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Kate  L.  Durfee;  Fourth  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Kate  B.  Fish;  Secretary,  Miss  Lottie  F.  Grinnell; 
Treasurer,  William  F.  Brayton. 


THE  METHODIST  SOCIAL  UNION  OF  PROVIDENCE  (R.  L) 

AND  VICINITY. 
J.  E.  C.  Farnham. 

The  cultivation  of  "the  con- 
nectional  principle,"  and  to  pro- 
mote the  spirit  of  fraternal  in- 
tercourse and  Christian  enter- 
prise among  the  members  and 
congregations  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Providence 
and  vicinity,"  is  the  objective 
mission  of  the  Methodist  Social 
Union.  It  means  the  moral  up- 
lift of  all  who  come  within  the 
radius  of  its  influence.  The 
Union  has  been,  measurably,  at 
least,  successful  in  the  cause  for 
it  was  created. 


J.    E.    C.   FARNHAM. 


This  organization  came  into  being  from  the  fact  that  the  leading 
laymen  of  Providence  believed  that,  by  its  agency,  great  good  would 
result  to  the  churches  allied  in  it,  as  also  to  individual  Christian  life. 

It  was  organized,  after  a  number  of  preliminary  meetings,  on  June 
25,  1882. 

The  Union  holds  four  meetings  each  year.  At  each  of  these 
gatherings,  from  six  to  seven  o'clock  is  an  hour  for  social  intercourse, 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 
146 

and  for  an  interchange  of  acquaintance.  The  exercises  at  the  banquet 
are,  in  part,  devotional,  an  invocation  preceding,  and  a  prayer  follow- 
incr'  the  meal.  Music  also  forms  a  prominent  feature  of  these  gather- 
ings, both  vocal  and  orchestral.  Addresses  and  papers  on  vital  sub- 
jects, together  with  discussions  of  topics  pertinent  to  the  welfare  of  the 
church,  have  especially  characterized  these  several  meetings.  In  this 
way  there  has  been  afforded  an  opportunity  for  Providence  Methodism 
with  invited  guests  to  hear  many  of  the  more  noted  Christian  scholars 
of  our  own  and  other  denominations.  Twice  in  its  history  it  has  been 
the  delightful  experience  of  this  Union  to  give  a  reception  to  our 
Board  of  Bishops.  Each  has  been  an  occasion  of  special  enjoyment. 

By  the  agency  of  this  Union  the  missionary  and  other  benevolent 
causes  of  our  church,  as,  in  fact,  the  varied  interests  of  our  universal 
Methodism,  have  been  presented  to  the  consideration  of  the  leading 
laymen  of  the  local  churches. 

Character  has  been  given  to  the  Union  by  the  men  who  have 
been  the  leaders  in  its  organization.  Its  officers  have  been  men  promi- 
nent not  only  in  the  church,  but  in  the  professional,  business  and  civic 
affairs  of  the  community.  Its  presidents  have  included  educators,  law- 
yers, business  men,  and  others.  These  have  given  not  only  dignity  and 
strength  to  the  Union  itself,  but  their  personal  standing  has  empha- 
sized the  worth  of  the  organization.  Successively  its  presidents  have 
been: 

George  B.  F.  Hinckley,  1882-84;  Frank  H.  Maynard,  1885;  Wal- 
ter H.  Barney,  1886;  Richard  W.  Smith,  1887;  Joseph  E.  C.  Farn- 
ham,  1888;  Horace  S.  Tarbell,  1889;  Walter  B.  Jacobs,  1890;  Albert  J. 
Manchester,  1891;  Rev.  F.  D.  Blakeslee,  D.  D.,  1892;  Henry  A. 
Fifield,  1893;  Joseph  W.  V.  Rich,  1894;  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  D.  D.,  1895; 
George  W.  Lanphear,  1896;  Harmon  S.  Babcock,  1897. 

Of  these  presiding  officers  all  are  living,  with  the  exception  of  the 
first  one.  The  Union  has  been  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  the  several 
churches.  It  has  not  met  the  idea  of  all  in  connection  with  the  Metho- 
dist churches  it  is  designed  to  bring  together  and  help.  It  is  not  a 
perfect  institution.  No  human  society  is.  God  was  recognized  in  the 
organization  of  the  Union,  and  His  blessing  has  been  sought  in  its 
continuance,  and  he  has  signally  favored  it.  Its  object  is  most  com- 
mendatory, and  its  future  cannot  fail  of  further  and  constant  usefulness. 


ASBURY  MEMORIAL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

The  first  public  meeting-  of  this  society  was  held  on  the  22d  of 
March,  1868,  in  the  Moshassuck  Engine  House,  situated  on  Mill  street, 
the  lower  floor  being  used,  while  the  upper  was  occupied  for  a  police 
station. 

Rev.  John  Livesey,  then  pastor  of  Power  Street,  now  Hope 
Street  Church;  John  Benton,  also  of  Power  Street,  and  Thomas  J. 
Gardner  of  Mathewson  Street  Church,  were  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee who  secured  the  place  for  the  use  of  the  mission. 

The  morning  hour  was  devoted  to  a  prayer  meeting,  followed  by 


ASBURY    MEMORIAL    CHURCH. 


REV.  J.  A.  L.   RICH. 


the  organization  of  a  Sunday  school.  James  C.  Jacobs  was  chosen 
Superintendent  and  John  Burton,  Assistant  Superintendent;  Philip  B. 
Stiness,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  Rev.  John  Livesey 
preached  in  the  afternoon  and  led  a  prayer  service  in  the  evening. 
Two  classes  were  formed,  Morris  Deming  and  John  Foster  appointed 
leaders.  A  petition  was  drawn  up  and  sent  to  the  annual  conference 
for  a  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  John  Livesey  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  this  young  church  of  twenty  members,  two  weeks  after  its  organiza- 
tion. The  stewards  were  John  Benton,  Morris  Deming,  William  T. 
Moorhead,  William  H.  White,  James  C.  Jacobs  and  John  Foster. 
Trustees,  Morris  Deming,  John  Burton,  George  W.  Cady,  John  Bid- 
well  and  Philip  B.  Stiness,  Jr. 

The  city  authorities  desiring  the  room  for  police  purposes,  they 
were,  after  a  few  months,  compelled  to  vacate,  holding  services  during 
July  and  August  in  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  on  North  Main 


148 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


street,  just  across  from  the  place  where  the  Asbury  Memorial  now 
stands.  Subsequently  the  services  were  held  in  the  parsonage,  then 
on  North  Main  street  and  Livingstone  avenue,  where  they  remained 
until  the  chapel,  now  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  and  used  by  the  Ep- 
worth  League  for  gymnasium  purposes,  was  completed  and  ready 
for  use.  This  chapel  was  dedicated  on  the  nth  of  November,  and 
remained  the  place  of  worship  until  the  new  church  was  built,  stand- 
ing on  the  same  spot  where  the  chapel  stood,  where  in  earlier  days 
was  a  house  in  which  it  is  said  George  Washington  and  Lafayette 
stayed  for  a  time  in  Revolutionary  days.  The  new  church  was  begun 
under  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Smith,  and  completed  while  the 


HOUSE    USED    AS    PARSONAGE. 


CHARLES  A.    PHILLIPS. 
President    Board   Trustees. 


Rev.  George  W.  Hunt  was  in  charge.  It  was  dedicated  Oct.  17-18, 
1888,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  D.  A.  Jordan,  Presiding  Elder 
of  the  district,  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster  preaching  the  sermon.  The  church 
is  Romanesque  in  style,  built  of  granite  and  brick,  the  audience  room 
finished  in  black  walnut,  609  seats  on  the  floor  and  a  rear  gallery.  The 
vestry  has  ample  accommodations  for  Sunday  school  work,  which  has 
always  been  a  specialty.  The  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $35,000. 
George  W.  Cady,  one  of  the  trustees,  was  the  architect. 

The  church  has  now  a  membership  of  286,  and  14  probationers. 
It  has  ever  been  a  working  church  and  possessed  of  a  revival  spirit. 
It  is  fitting  to  add  at  this  point,  that  during  the  history  of  the  church 
self-sacrificing  and  devoted  members  have  been  found,  who  gave  of 
their  time  and  substance  to  her  needs,  among  whom  is  Miss  Sidney 
McKnight,  an  elect  sister,  who  has  not  only  given  material  aid,  but  has 
for  years  been  a  spiritual  inspiration. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 
PASTORS. 


1868-69.  John  Livesey  1887-88. 

1870-71.  Asa  N.  Bodfish  1889. 

1872-73-  John  F.  Sheffield  1890-91. 

1874-76.  Alexander  Anderson  1892-93. 

1877-78.  Shadrach  Leader  1894. 

1879-80.  William  H.  Stetson 

1881-83.  Hopkins  B.  Cady  1895. 

1884-86.  William  J.  Smith 


George  W.  Hunt 
S.  Hamilton  Day 
Edwin  F.  Jones 
Samuel  McBurney 
Albert  Cameron 
John  L.  Pitner 
Joshua  A.  L.  Rich 


CHARLES  H.  NORTHCOTT. 
Epworth  League  President. 


GEORGE    E.    BAKER. 

Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

_^  Trustees — Charles  A.  Phillips,  President,  George  W.  Cady,  Dr. 
S.  S.  Burton,  Treasurer,  Miles  Lees,  Professor  N.  G.  Kingsley,  George 
E.  Baker,  Frank  G.  Cleasby,  Fred  A.  Horton,  Jarvis  S.  Horton. 

Stewards — H.  E.  Royce,  C.  A.  McKay,  Joseph  Tandoin,  L.  O. 
Phillips,  John  McGethlin,  Cyrus  Le  Lacheur,  C.  H.  Northcott,  John  A. 
Tandoin,  George  Wills,  George  A.  Johnson,  Fred  L.  Smith,  Joseph  T. 
Tandoin. 

Sunday  School — George  E.  Baker,  Superintendent;  Fred  A. 
Horton  and  Jarvis  S.  Horton,  Assistants;  Fred  G.  Phillips,  Secre- 
tary; G.  Albert  Baker,  Assistant  Secretary;  Fred  A.  Horton,  Jr., 
Treasurer;  Charles  H.  Northcott,  Librarian;  Thomas  Palmer  and  Mrs. 
G.  E.  Baker,  Assistants;  Mrs.  Maggie  Crosgrove,  Superintendent  of 
Infant  Room;  Mrs.  Frank  G.  Cleasby,  Assistant. 

Teachers — J.  A.  L.  Rich,  Bible  class;  Mrs.  Lydia  W.  Cooper, 
Robert  McDuff,  Joseph  Tandoin,  G.  H.  E.  Royce,  Miss  L.  A.  Wash- 
burn,  Mrs.  J.  A.  L.  Rich,  Ella  A.  Myers,  Miss  Gertie  Mayo,  Miss  Effie 
Whittemore,  William  Ricketts,  Miss  Bessie  Rickctts,  Mrs.  Fred.  Smith, 


150 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Miss  Louisa  Phillips,  Miss  Minnie  Phillips,  Mrs.  Charles  Phillips,  Pro- 
fessor N.  G.  Kingsley. 

Exhorter — Joseph  Tandoin. 

Local  Preacher — R.  S.  Foster. 

Deaconess — Miss  Blanche  Baker. 

Class  Leaders — Charles  A.  McKay,  Joseph  Tandoin. 

Epworth  League — Asbury  Chapter,  No.  1,620,  formed  during  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Day,  85  members.  Charles  H.  Northcott, 
President;  Walter  Royce,  Secretary;  Gertie  Mayo,  Treasurer;  Everett 
Horton,  Financial  Secretary;  Louisa  Phillips,  Assistant;  Laura  Wash- 
burn,  First  Vice-President;  Blanche  Baker,  Second  Vice-President; 
Venie  Cole,  Third  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Fred  L.  Smith,  Fourth  Vice- 
President. 

Junior  League — Samuel  Marshman,  Superintendent;  Hattie  Stone, 
President;  Bertram  Myers,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


BROADWAY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1850,  under  the  direction  of  members  of 
the  Chestnut  Street  Church,  a  Sunday  school  was  organized  for  the 

benefit  of  the  Methodist  people 
in  the  northwest  part  of  the  city. 
The  meeting  place  was  in  an  old 
Calvinistic  Baptist  church  lo- 
cated at  the  corner  of  Dean  and 
Federal  streets.  In  the  same 
building  on  the  same  Sabbath 
Rev.  T.  G.  Carver  preached. 
Thus  began  what  is  now  the 
Broadway  church.  The  pastors 
of  the  Chestnut,  Power  and 
Mathewson  Streets  gave  their 
services  on  Sabbath  evenings 
until  the  prosperity  of  the  new 
society  warranted  the  securing  of 
a  regular  pastor.  A  superannu- 
ated member  of  the  conference; 
Rev.  Richard  Donkersley,  was 
secured  and  served  the  society 
for  a  time.  In  the  autumn  of  this  year  Rev.  Carlos  Banning 
took  charge,  and  inaugurated  regular  Sabbath  services.  Pros- 
perity attended  the  work  for  three  years,,  when  it  became  evi- 
dent that  a  new  location  must  be  secured  in  order  to  give  proper 
opportunity  for  the  further  growth  of  the  society.  At  a  meet- 


THE  BROADWAY  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  151 

ing  of  the  official  board  on  May  20,  1854,  a  committee  to  secure  a 
house  for  worship  in  another  and  more  suitable  locality  was  appointed. 
At  the  corner  of  Fountain  and  Franklin  streets  stood  a  church  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodists.  The  society  organized  in  1840  had  failed  to 
succeed  and  their  house  was  unoccupied.  The  committee  secured  this 
house  with  the  privilege  of  purchasing.  The  official  board  confirmed 
the  action  of  the  committee  and  voted  to  move  to  the  new  location  at 
once.  On  Sunday,  April  22,  1855,  the  first  service  was  held  in  this 
church,  Rev.  Jonathan  Cady,  the  pastor,  preaching.  Passing  over  the 
years  from  1855  to  1859,  we  find  the  same  difficulty  again  facing  this 
society.  After  much  planning  and  discussion  it  was  finally  decided  to 


REV.  J.   O.   RANDALL. 


MRS.    J.   O.  RANDALL. 


purchase  an  eligible  lot  on  Broadway,  remove  the  church  building  to 
it  and  sell  the  lot  on  Fountain  street.  The  work  of  removal  and  making 
extensive  modifications  was  made  possible  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
pastor,  Rev.  E.  B.  Bradford.  "He  not  only  preached,  but  performed 
manual  labor  on  the  church  from  first  to  last."  The  dedication  of  this 
church,  September,  1860,  marked  its  highest  prosperity  hitherto. 
Though  many  difficulties  have  met  this  society,  yet  the  record  from 
1860  onward  has  been  one  of  which  Methodism  need  not  be  ashamed. 
The  society  has  grown.  Many  faithful  Christians  mark  this  church  as 
"the  spot  on  earth  most  clear."  The  building  has  been  repaired  and 
improved  to  suit  the  needs  of  the  congregation.  The  movement  was 
first  called  Federal  Street  Mission.  In  1855  the  name  was  changed  to 
Fourth  Methodist  Fpiscopal  church.  When  the  last  location  was 
secured  the  name  became  Broadway. 


SCUl'ENIR  HISTORY. 


The  first  official  board  meeting  was  held  April  28,  1851,  at  the 
house  of  William  K.  Thurber. 

The  first  board  of  stewards  consisted  of  Harvey  Dingley,  Isaac 
Sperry,  N.  C.  Briggs  and  Edmond  Kenyon.  W.  K.  Thurber,  class 
leader. 

First  Board  of  Trustees,  Rev.  J.  Cady,  Robert  G.  Cory,  John 
Dean,  C.  Mowry,  R.  W.  Cady,  T.  J.  Gardiner,  L.  Arnold,  T.  Adder- 
man  and  W.  Barney. 

The  first  Sunday  school  superintendent  was  William  K.  Thurber. 
The  present  superintendent  is  Mr.  W.  N.  Lansing.  With  the  begin- 


L.  W.  SMITH. 

Epworth   League   President. 


W.  N.  LANSING. 
Sunday   School  Superintendent. 


ning  of  this  year  the  Sunday  school  was  graded.  The  new  order  is 
much  superior  to  the  former,  and  this  school  now  ranks  among  the 
best  in  the  conference. 

The  music  of  the  church  is  of  a  high  order,  Mr.  B.  W.  Doughty 
being  a  very  proficient  leader.  He  has  been  the  leader  of  the  Choral 
Society  since  its  organization. 

PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

Sunday  School — W.  N.  Lansing,  Superintendent;  W.  B.  Sherman, 
Assistant;  Miss  Mattie  Lansing,  Treasurer;  George  H.  Hope,  Secre- 
tary; Mrs.  H.  S.  Lamson,  Librarian;  Celia  I.  Booth,  Superintendent 
primary  department. 

Epworth  League — President,  L.  W.  Smith;  First  Vice-President, 

Miss  Mildred  Moss;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Sadie   Reynolds; 

Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Lettie  Tilly;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs. 

L.  Davenport;  Secretary,  George  H.  Hope;  Treasurer,  Miss  May 

B.  Skerrv. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 
PASTORS. 


153 


B.    W.    DOUGHTY, 
Leader    of   Choral   Society. 

1850.  Richard  Donkersley 
Carlos  Banning 

1851.  D.  Fillmore 

1852.  Moses  Chase 
I853-55-     J-  Cady 


1856.  William  Kellen 

1857-58.  J.  M.  Carroll 

1859-60.  E.  B.  Bradford 

1861-62.  H.  S.  White 

A.  A.  Wright 

1863-64.  C.  H.  Payne 

1865-66.  J.  B.  Gould  (released) 

Sydney  Dean  supply 

1867-68.  V.  A.  Cooper 

1869.  G.  M.  Hamlin 

1870.  J.  E.  C.  Sawyer 

1871.  H.  D.  Robinson 
1872-74.  J.  E.  Hawkins 
1875.  G.  M.  Miller 
1876-77.  D.  A.  Whedon 
1878-79.  E.  F.  Jones 
1880-82.  C.  L.  Goodell 
1883-85.  C.  B.  Pitblado 
1886-87.  E.  F.  Clark 
1888-91.  G.  W.  King 
1892-94.  J.  F.  Cooper 

1895.  Eben  Tirrell 

1896.  George  E.  Brightman 

1897.  J.  O. 'Randall 


CHESTNUT  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

Freeborn  Garretson  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  Provi- 
dence, April,  1787.  At  intervals  during  a  number  of  successive  years 
such  distinguished  itinerants  as  Bishop  Asbury,  Dr.  Coke,  Jesse 

Lee  and  others  preached  in  the 
city,  but  though  a  class  had 
been  formed  November  4, 
1798,  and  there  was  a  sprink- 
ling of  Methodists,  yet  it  was 
not  until  1815,  and  under  the 
labors  of  Van  Rensselaer  Os- 
born,  that  Methodism  was  for- 
mally established.  Passing 
through  the  city  on  business, 
Mr.  Osborn  was  invited  to 
preach  to  the  small  company  of 
Methodists  who  worshiped  in 
a  schoolhouse  on  Middle 
street.  An  intense  revival  fol- 
lowed his  sermon.  Mr.  Os- 
born immediately  left  his  regu- 
lar appointment  at  Needham 
and  began  stated  services  in 
THK  CHESTNUT  ST.  CHURCH.  Providence,  Sept.  14,  1815. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Osborn  formed  a  Sunday 
school.  The  first  superintendent  was  Josiah  S.  Wardwell.  This  school 
was  probably  the  oldest  in  the  city,  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
country. 

Mr.  Osborn  began  at  once  to  raise  funds  for  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship.  It  was  built  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Aborn  and 
Washington  streets,  and  was  dedicated  June  i,  1816. 

In  four  years  the  little  church  on  Aborn  street  was  too  small  for 
the  growing  society.  A  movement  for  a  new  church  was  begun,  and 
in  August,  1821,  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  edifice  was  laid  on  a  lot 
donated  by  Daniel  Field  at  the  corner  of  Chestnut  and  Clifford  streets. 
The  church  was  dedicated  January  i,  1822,  Bartholomew  Otheman 
preaching  the  sermon.  » 

Thus  began  Chestnut  Street  Church,  the  mother  of  Methodism  in 
Providence.  From  her  have  proceeded  in  1833  Power  Street  Church 
(now  Hope  Street),  in  1850  Broadway,  in  1856  St.  Paul's,  and  in  1849, 
by  a  union  of  members  from  Power  Street  and  Chestnut  Street, 
Mathewson  Street. 


SOUVENIR  P11STORY. 


155 


The  New  England  Conference  was  twice  held  in  Chestnut  Street 
Church,  in  1823  and  1832.  When  the  Providence  Conference  was 
formed,  its  first  session  was  held  with  this  church,  January  9,  1841. 
The  first  Lay  Electoral  Conference  convened  here  in  1872,  when 
William  A.  Wardwell,  an  honored  member  of  Chestnut  Street,  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  first  General  Conference  to  which  laymen 
were  admitted. 

Many  times  has  the  church  been  extensively  repaired  and  altered. 
In  1837,  under  Daniel  Fillmore,  a  steeple  and  a  bell  were  added. 


REV.  A.  J.  COULTAS. 


MRS.  A.  J.  COULTAS. 


This  steeple  was  blown  off  in  the  gale  of  September,  1869,  but  was 
replaced  at  a  heavy  outlay.  In  1851,  under  John  Hobart,  marked  alter- 
ations were  made,  leaving  a  heavy  debt,  which  J.  B.  Gould,  who  was 
pastor  in  1861-62,  succeeded  in  cancelling.  The  galleries  were  en- 
larged under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  McDonald.  During  Rev. 
J.  E.  C.  Sawyer's  pastorate  the  parsonage,  which  had  been  built  in. 
1845  on  a  lot  in  the  rear  of  the  church  while  J.  B.  Husted  was  pastor,, 
was  moved  forward  and  enlarged,  and  the  interior  of  the  church  re- 
modeled, frescoed  and  furnished.  Subscriptions  almost  covering  the 
expense  of  the  latter  were  also  raised  at  this  time.  In  1895,  while  Rev. 
H.  B.  Cady  was  pastor,  the  organ  was  removed  to  the  rear  of  the 
pulpit,  a  new  choir  gallery  and  a  platform  built,  a  spacious  stairway 
constructed  leading  to  the  vestry,  and  the  interior  and  exterior  of  the 
church  refitted,  making  it  a  most  commodious  and  attractive  house 
of  worship. 

Many  have  been  the  revivals  that  have  blessed  this  church,  those- 
under  Revs.  Osborn,  Otheman,  Merrill,  Patten,  Allen  and  Goodell 
being  the  most  notable. 


'56 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Strong  the  men  who  have  stood  in  the  pulpit  and  noble  the  men 
who  have  sat  in  the  pews.  Space  does  not  permit  to  tell  of  the  suc- 
cesses of  such  pastors  as  A.  D.  Sargent,  A.  D.  Merrill,  S.  C.  Brown, 
G.  M.  Carpenter,  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  Mark  Trafton,  Ira  M.  Bidwell, 
J.  E.  C.  Sawyer,  D.  P.  Leavitt,  and  others  of  more  recent  times. 
Neither  can  we  recount  the  labors  and  sacrifices  of  such  members  and 
friends  as  the  Adamses,  Lewises,  Fields,  Wardwells,  Anthonys,  Snows, 


WALTER   M.    CHASE. 
Epworth   League   President. 


EUGENE   LAWTON. 

Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


Potters,  Manchesters,  and  scores  of  others  who  were  dear  to  the  church 
and  a  blessing  to  the  world. 

Rebecca  Pettis,  who,  in  1879,  on  account  of  failing  strength  re- 
signed her  charge  of  the  infant  class,  which  she  had  held  for  forty-one 
years,  still  lives. 

Chestnut  Street  Church  has  had  a  long  and  brilliant  career.  She 
has  lived  to  see  the  city  grow  from  11,000  in  population  to  150,000, 
and  Methodism  to  increase  from  one  church  to  thirteen,  and  from  a 
membership  of  about  thirty  to  upwards  of  three  thousand.  And 
though  the  neighborhood  where  the  church  stands  has  changed  from 
a  place  of  fine  residences  to  a  district  crowded  with  stores,  factories, 
tenement  houses,  etc.,  yet  the  same  gospel  is  preached  from  the  pulpit 
and  loyal  men  and  women  remain  to  carry  on  her  work. 


PASTORS. 


Preachers  previous  to  1815: 
1792.  Lemuel  Smith 

1793-          Daniel  Kendall 


1805. 


:D.  Burge 
Epaphras  Kibby 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


157 


Pliny  Pratt 
Joseph  Smith 
John  Tinkham 
Benjamin  P.  Hill 
Pliny  Brett 
G.  R.  Norris 
Elisha  Streeter 
Pliny  Brett 
S.  Wingate 
Pliny  Brett 
Benjamin  Sabin 
Daniel  Wentworth 
W.  Bannister 
Joel  Steele 

F.  Dane 
Orlando  Hinds 

S.  C.  Brown 
Richard  Livesey 

G.  M.  Carpenter 
J.  A.  M.  Chapman 
J.  B.  Gould 
William  McDonald 
Mark  Trafton 

Ira  M.  Bidwell 
J.  W.  F.  Barnes 
J.  E.  C.  Sawyer 
D.  P.  Leavitt 

B.  P.  Raymond 
A.  P.  Palmer 

T.  Hollingshead 

C.  L.  Goodell 
H.  C.  Westwood 
S.  O.  Benton 

C.  E.  Harris 
W.  P.  Buck 
H.  B.  Cadv 
A.  J.  Coultas 


PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — H.  S.  Tarhell,  President;  William  A.  Greene,  Treasurer- 
Samuel  H.  Bailey,  Secretary;  James  L.  Bennett.  G.  F.  Martin,  Alba 
R.  Abbott,  James  S.  Kettlety,  George  Nicholson,  W.  J.  Halcrow. 

Stewards— C.  E.  Hancock,  District  Steward;  W.  J.  Halcrow, 
George  Nicholson,  Eugene  Lawton,  W.  W.  Chase,  W.  H.  Cox, 
Thomas  Rice,  O.  B.  Hawxhnrst,  Mrs.  S.  H.  Bailey,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Han- 


Enos  Mudge 

1806. 

1794. 

Joseph  Lovell 

1795- 

David  Bromley 

1807. 

John  Hill 

1808. 

1796. 

Stephen  Hull 

1809. 

1797. 

Wesley  Budd 

Nathaniel  Chapin 

1810. 

1798-99. 

Joshua  Hall 

1800. 

Joseph  Snelling 

1811. 

Solomon  Landon 

1801. 

Daniel  Fidler 

1812. 

John  Finnigan 

1813. 

1803. 

Allen  H.  Cobb 

Reuben  Hubbard 

1814. 

Caleb  Morris 

1815. 

1804 

Asa  Pettie 

1815-16. 

Van  Rensselaer  Osborn 

1853-54- 

1817-18. 

Solomon  Sias 

1855-56- 

1819. 

Moses  Fifield 

1857-58. 

1820-21. 

Bartholomew  Otheman 

1859-60. 

1822. 

Timothy  Merritt 

1861-62. 

1823-24. 

Enoch  Mudge 

1863-64. 

1825. 

Daniel  Webb 

1865-66. 

1826-27. 

Asa  Kent 

1867-68. 

1828-29. 

Jacob  Sanborn 

1869-70. 

1830-31. 

David  Kilborn 

1871-73. 

1832-33. 

Jotham  Horton 

1874-76. 

1834. 

Jacob  Sanborn 

1877-79. 

1835-36; 

A.  D.  Sargent 

1880. 

1837-38- 

Daniel  Fillmore 

1881-82. 

1839-40. 

A.  D.  Merrill 

1883-85. 

1841-42. 

David  Patten,  Jr 

1886-87. 

1843- 

Joel  Knight 

1888-89. 

1844. 

Thomas  Elv 

1890-91. 

1845-46. 

T.  B.  Husted 

1892-94. 

1847-48. 

R.  W.  Allen 

189^-96. 

1849-50. 

T.  G.  Carver 

1897. 

1851-52. 

John  Hobart 

158 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY, 


cock,  Treasurer;  Miss  E.  L.  Manchester,  Mrs.  G.  M.  Turner,  Miss 
Clara  A.  Goff. 

Sunday  School — Eugene  Lawton,  Superintendent  ;S.  H.  Bailey, 
Assistant  Superintendent;  Mrs.  G.  D.  Dort,  Assistant  Superintendent; 
Miss  Cora  A.  Wells,  Secretary;  C.  Frank  Williams,  Assistant  Secre- 
tary; W.  H.  Fredericks,  Treasurer;  W.  Irving  Cox,  Librarian. 

Epworth  League — W.  W.  Chase,  President;  Miss  Abbie  L.  Mar- 
tin, First  Vice;  Miss  Anna  C.  Hanson,  Second  Vice;  Miss  Elizabeth 
R.  Turner,  Third  Vice;  Mrs.  Gertrude  M.  Hurlburt,  Fourth  Vice; 
Wilson  C.  Dort,  Secretary;  Miss  Alice  I.  Hanson,  Treasurer. 


CRANSTON  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

The  Cranston  Street  M.  E.  Church  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  was  the 
outcome  of  a  Union  Mission  founded  by  Charles  Parker  in  1879. 
During  the  year  following  dissensions  arose  and  the  leader,  with  a  few 

friends,  seceded  and  continued 
to  hold  meetings  in  another 
hall  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 
The  original  society  continued 
to  hold  meetings,  but  labored 
under  the  difficulties  resulting 
from  the  rivalries  of  two  mis- 
sions in  close  proximity,  and 
after  a  time  requested  the  Rev. 
George  W.  Anderson,  pastor  of 
Trinity  M.  E.  Church,  to  adopt 
the  work  as  an  auxiliary. 

In  response  Mr.  Anderson 
visited  the  mission  and  organ- 
ized a  class,  with  Rev.  F.  C. 
Baker  as  leader.  The  official 
board  of  Trinity  M.  E.  Church, 
fearing  financial  responsibility,  refused  to  mother  the  mission, 
and  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Provi- 
dence District,  Rev.  D.  A.  Whedon,  D.  D.  After  careful  investigation 
of  the  situation  Dr.  Whedon  decided  that  "the  child  was  able  to  walk 
alone,"  and  organized  a  church  to  be  known  as  the  Cranston  Street 
M.  E.  church,  with  Rev.  W.  H.  Stetson  as  first  pastor. 

Under  Mr.  Stetson's  labors  the  work  increased,  the  congregation 
filled  the  hall,  and  the  Sundav  School  sometimes  numbered  over  one 


THE  CRANSTON  STREET  CHURCH. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


159 


hundred  in   attendance,  notwithstanding-  the  fact  that  Mr.   Parker's 
Mission  was  still  holding-  meetings  within  two  hundred  feet. 

Mr.  Stetson  at  this  time  met  with  a  discouragement  that  would 
have  daunted  men  of  less  energy  and  perseverance.  His  church  was 
notified  to  vacate  the  hall,  as  the  Odd  Fellows,  from  whom  the  society 
sub-leased,  desired  to  fit  up  the  place  for  lodge  work.  The  meetings 
were  removed  to  the  house  of  Joseph  Wilbur,  but  in  a  few  weeks 
diphtheria  in  the  family  necessitated  another  removal,  and  the  church 
services  and  Sunday  School  were  continued  at  the  house  of  Rev. 
Robert  Coscarden,  a  local  elder,  where  they  continued  nearly  six 
months. 


REV.  F.  J.  FOLLANSBEE. 


MRS.  F.  J.  FOLLANSBEE. 


The  pastor,  feeling  that  the  time  had  come  to  provide  a  church 
edifice,  demonstrated  his  faith  by  purchasing-  a  building  lot  without  a 
dollar  in  hand,  giving  a  mortgage  for  the  entire  amount  of  purchase, 
fifteen  hundred  dollars.  Funds  and  furnishings  were  solicited  by  the 
pastor  and  members  of  the  church,  and  in  May,  1884,  the  society  held 
its  first  meeting  in  the  new  building. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Stetson  deserved  great  credit  for  his  untiring  labors 
for  the  accomplishment  of  a  church  home.  In  a  short  time  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  the  building  completed  and  fully  fitted,  carpeted 
and  furnished,  with  but  one  drawback,  a  debt  of  $3000,  which  has  been 
reduced  to  $1,000  by  the  efforts  of  a  later  pastor,  Rev.  E.  W.  Goodier. 
Goodier  also  raised  $1,600  to  repair  and  enlarge  the  church  edi- 
fice. Six  hundred  dollars  of  this  amount  was  contributed  by  parties 
outside  the  church. 


i6o 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


The  Cranston  Street  M.  E.  church  was  organized  March  9,  1882 
with  a  membership  of  nine  in  full  connection  and  twenty-nine  proba- 
tioners. The  nominal  membership  at  the  present  time  is  eighty-two, 

One  of  the  most  hopeful  things  connected  with  the  church  is  the 
Sabbath  School.  It  has  been  fortunate  in  having  faithful  officers 
and  teachers.  The  number  of  scholars  enrolled  is  largely  beyond  the 
proportion  of  the  membership  of  the  church.  The  total  membership 
of  the  school  is  221,  with  an  average  attendance  of  100.  On  the  even- 
ing of  Dec.  28,  1888,  a  society  was  organized  under  the  name  of  the 
Young  People's  Christian  League. 

This   title   held  good  until  June  17,  1889,  when    the   name   was 


REV.    ROBERT    COSCARDEN. 


G.    E.    CHAPMAN. 

Epworth  League  President. 


changed  to  the  Epworth  League,  and  in  due  time  was  admitted  to  the 
General  League  as  the  Cranston  Street  Chapter,  No.  549.  Present 
number  of  members  is  thirty-four. 

There  is  also  a  Junior  League,  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Leach.     For 
some  time  the  Cranston  Street  church  formed  part  of  the  Methodist 
City  Missions  with  Edgewood,  the  Cranston  Print  Works  and  Wans- 
kuck.    Edgewood  and  Wanskuck  have  been  organized  as  churches, 
but  the  Cranston  Print  Works  failed  to  materialize.     The  church  has 
had  nine  faithful  pastors.     The  longest  pastorate  was  one  of  four  years. 
There  have  been  marked  changes  in  the  membership  of  the  church. 
Very  few  of  the  old  members  remain.     If  the  church  had  suffered  no 
depletion  in  its  membership  it  would  have  been  strong  in  numbers  and 
resources  to-day.    We  have,  however,  the  consolation  of  knowing  that 
many  who  have  lighted  their  lamps  at  our  altar  have  gone  to  distant 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


161 


parts  to  shed  their  light  there,  and  we  trust  to  so  let  it  shine  as  to 
glorify  our  Father  in  heaven. 


1882.  F.  C.  Baker 

1882-83.  W.  H.  Stetson 

1883-85.  Howard  E.  Cook 

1886.  *  W.  H.  Allen 

1887.  E.  F.  Jones 


PASTORS. 

1888. 
1889-92. 
1893. 
1894. 


F.  P.  Parkin 

E.  W.  Goodier 
S.  M.  Beale 

F.  J.  Follansbee 


PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — J.  W.  Bowdish,  Ellen  Seabury,  Annie  Chapman,  Rob- 
ert McGhee.  Frank  Seabury,  G.  W.  Butterworth,  Charles  Stevens, 
George  E.  Chapman,  Mary  Brown,  Alzada  Weymouth,  Frank  Boyd, 
McKilvey  Grant. 

Sunday    School — Superintendent,    Robert    McGhee;    Assistant 
Superintendent,  W.  H.  Skeel ;  Treasurer,  G.  W.  Butterworth. 

Epworth  League — President,  G.  E.  Chapman;  First  Vice  President, 
Robert  McGhee;  Second  Vice  President.  Miss  I.  Boardman;  Third 
Vice-President,  Margaret  Marshall;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
C.  W.  Butterworth;  Secretary,  W.  H.  Skeel;  Treasurer,  Mary  L.  Skeel. 

fittnior  League — Superintendent,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Leach. 


HAVEN  M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 


The  Haven  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  East  Providence  is 
one  of  the  youngest  and  most  promising  of  our  Conference.  Located 
in  a  growing  residential  section,  only  about  fifteen  minutes'  ride  by  the 

electrics  from  the  centre  of  the  city 
of  Providence,  its  growth  in  at- 
tendance and  membership  has  been 
steady  and  rapid,  and  it  enjoys  to- 
day the  somewhat  rare  distinction 
in  New  England  of  being  the  lead- 
ing church  in  a  rapidly  growing 
community. 

Methodist  preaching  was  first  in- 
troduced into  this  place  over  forty 
years  ago,  or  before  1860,  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Griffin,  a  local 
preacher  of  this  vicinity,  and  class 
meetings  were  held  at  private  resi- 
dences. No  visible  result  remained, 

___ i_^ ^^^ _^ _ ^ i —     however,   of  these   efforts  to  con- 
tribute to  the  movement  which  re- 

THE   EAST  PROVIDENCE.   CHURCH.        ....  ,11 

suited  in   the  present  church,   the 

birth  of  which  was  realized  in  the  organization  of  a  class  by  the  Rev. 
A.  J.  Church,  then  the  pastor  of  the  Hope  Street  M.  E.  Church  in 
Providence,  in  the  year  1874.  After  conducting  the  class  in  person 
for  several  months,  Mr.  Church  appointed  Theodore  W.  Chase  as 
leader,  who  was  assisted  and  in  a  few  weeks  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Ely,  a  superanuated  preacher  residing  in  the  place.  Rev. 
Mr.  Ely  after  a  little  while  called  a  meeting  in  a  small  room  in  the 
"Chedel  Building,"  to  consider  the  advisability  of  forming  a  Sunday 
school  and  of  arranging  for  Sabbath  preaching  services.  Five  persons 
responded  to  the  call,  and  decided  to  go  forward  in  the  prosecution 
of  the  enterprise. 

Chedel  Hall,  with  accommodation  for  two  hundred  persons,  was 
hired  for  the  purpose.  On  the  following  Sunday,  June  6th,  1875, 
Rev.  Thomas  Ely  preached  the  first  sermon,  and  on  the  succeeding 
Sunday,  June  I3th,  the  Sunday  School  was  organized,  with  Mr.  J.  S. 
Robert  as  Superintendent.  During  the  first  two  years  of  the  society's 
history  Rev.  Mr.  Ely  and  preachers  from  the  neighboring  city  sup- 
plied the  pulpit.  In  October,  1875,  tne  church  was  fully  organized, 
fifteen  members  withdrawing  their  relation  from  Hope  Street  to  en- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


163 


gage  in  the  enterprise.  At  the  annual  conference  in  1877,  the  little 
society  of  twenty-six  members  applied  for  a  conference  minister;  the 
charge  was  recognized,  united  with  St.  Paul's  of  South  Providence, 
and  the  Rev.  A.  Anderson  was  appointed  to  the  combined  churches 
for  three  successive  years.  On  March  29,  1880,  the  church  assumed 
the  name  of  "Haven  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  At  the  following 
conference  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Simon,  a  probationer  in  the  conference  and 
a  student  soon  to  graduate  from  Wesleyan  University,  was  appointed 
to  the  church  as  the  first  preacher  of  the  charge.  Mr.  Simon  served 
the  church  for  the  then  full  term  of  three  years  with  great  efficiency, 
and  became  not  only  greatly  endeared  to  the  people,  but  also  exten- 


REV.   C.    S.  DAVIS.  MRS.    C.   S.  DAVIS. 

sively  identified  with  the  early  development  of  the  society.  During 
his  pastorate  members  were  added  to  church  and  Sunday  School,  a  lot 
was  secured  and  the  church  erected,  in  which,  with  some  additions, 
the  society  has  ever  since  worshiped.  On  April  3,  1883,  the  house 
was  dedicated,  and  on  this  occasion  the  entire  amount  of  financial 
obligation  ($3,300)  contracted  in  its  erection  was  provided  for  by  sub- 
scription, after  which  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  renowned 
Bishop  Simpson. 

Mr.  Simon  was  followed  by  the  former  pastor,  the  Rev.  A.  Ander- 
son, who  spent  with  the  church  another  pleasant  and  prosperous  term 
of  three  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Starr,  who  was 
appointed  in  1886  and  served  the  church  for  a  term  of  four  years. 
During  Mr.  Starr's  term  of  service  the  Epworth  League  was  organ- 
ized, a  chapel  was  added  to  the  church  edifice  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  $200 
of  which  was  raised  at  the  time,  and  about  fifty  persons  by  letter  and 
from  probation  were  added  to  the  church. 


1 64 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Mr.  Starr  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  L.  G.  Morton,  who  served 
the  church  for  the  full  term  of  five  years.  During-  this  time  the  debt 
resulting  from  unpaid  pledges  on  the  original  edifice  and  the  balance 
of  the  cost  of  enlargement,  the  whole  amounting  to  $2,300,  was  can- 
celed, and  an  additional  thousand  dollars  was  raised  and  expended 
in  renovation  and  repairs.  During  this  pastorate  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence and  surroundings  was  religiously  quickened  under  the  labors 
of  D.  L.  Moody  and  his  assistants.  Awake  to  a  recognition  of  the 
opportunity,  the  Haven  Church  secured  the  services  of  an  evangel- 
ist, Mrs.  Ledger,  held  a  series  of  protracted  services,  and  realized  a 


CHARLES   C.   PHILLIPS. 


C.   S.  HAZARD. 

Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


gracious  spiritual  harvest  in  which  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  pro- 
fessed conversion,  of  whom  many  were  added  to  the  membership. 

The  next  preacher  to  serve  this  church  was  the  Rev.  John  Old- 
ham,  who  faithfully  cared  for  the  interests  entrusted  to  him  for  two 
years,  and  added  over  six  hundred  dollars  to  the  valuation  of  the 
church  property.  Mr.  Oldham  in  the  spring  of  1897  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Davis,  who  is  pleased  to  record  as  the  closing  sen- 
tence of  this  brief  history  a  kind  and  generous  reception. 

The  Haven  M.  E.  Church  rejoices  in  a  membership  of  275,  with 
an  Epworth  League  of  120,  a  Junior  League  of  60,  and  a  Sunday 
School  of  over  375,  with  48  officers  and  teachers. 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees— Joseph  E.  C.  Farnham.  Isaac  F.  Foster,  Charles  C. 
Phillips,  Charles  S.  Hazard,  Fred  A.  Burt,  Arthutf  H.  Wheaton,  Har- 
mon S.  Babcock,  Edwin  C.  Peck,  Ezra  Bowen. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  165 

Stewards — Moses  W.  Small,  Daniel  B.  Chase  (D.  S.),  Arthur  H. 
Wheaton,  Leander  Baker,  John  H.  French,  Dr.  George  F.  Allison, 
Edwin  F.  Leonard,  Cyrus  A.  Aldrich,  William  T.  Chase  (R.  S.), 
Washington  C.  Pervere,  Frank  A.  Rounds. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Charles  S.  Hazard;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Fred  A.  Burt;  Superintendent  of  Primary  Depart- 
ment, Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Moulton;  Secretary,  Henry  Moulton;  Treasurer, 
F.  M.  Chenery;  Librarian,  Fred  G.  Burt. 

Class  Leaders — Charles  S.  Hazard,  F.  M.  Chenery,  Fred  W. 
Shackleford. 

Epworth  League — President,  Charles  C.  Phillips ;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss  Nellie  F.  Munroe;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  G.  F.  Alli- 
son; Third  Vice-President,  Miss  Louise  Hill;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Ida  Chase;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Clifford  Leonard. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Munroe. 


HOPE  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 


The  Hope  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  first  known  as 
the  Power  Street  M.  E.  Church,  and  was  located  at  the  corner  of 
South  Main  and  Power  streets,  Providence,  R.  I.  It  came  into  exist- 
ence Jan.  i,  1834.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  previous  "the  sub- 
ject of  building  a  new  meeting 
house  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
city"  had  been  agitated.  In 
the  fall  of  1832  the  building  en- 
terprise took  shape.  By  the 
efforts  and  gifts  of  benevolent 
individuals,  among  whom  were 
Daniel  Field,  Hezekiah  An- 
thony, Joseph  Fuller,  Levi 
Webster,  Job  Andrews,  James 
Lewis  Captains  Alvira  Hall, 
Abner  Hall,  David  Hall  and 
Edward  Hall.  The  building 
was  brought  to  completion. 
The  church  was  dedicated  Jan. 
i,  1834.  The  probable  value  of 
the  structure  was  $15,000. 
THE  HOPE  ST.  CHURCH.  The  sermon  at  dedication  was 

preached  by  Rev.  Jotham  Hor- 

ton,  pastor  of  Chestnut  Street  Church,  under  whose  efficient  supervi- 
sion the  enterprise  had  been  developed.  Thirty-seven  members  became 
the  charter  members  of  the  society.  Then  "about  eighty  members 
were  cut  off  from  the  Chestnut  Street  Church,  who  constituted  the 
church,  to  occupy  the  new  house."  A  Sabbath  School  of  100  was  a 
part  of  the  new  church,  with  Job  Anderson  as  superintendent.  This 
edifice  served  the  people  until  1862,  when  repairs  became  necessary. 
Repairs  costing  $6000  were  made.  A  subscription  of  $1500  was  taken, 
leaving  an  encumbrance  on  the  church  of  $4500,  which  was  removed 
in  1866.  A  few  years  after  this  the  feeling  became  prevalent  that  the 
"society  should  build  in  a  more  desirable  location."  Under  the  pas- 
torate of  J.  W.  Willett,  1870-73,  it  was  decided  to  remove  to  the  site 
of  the  present  building,  on  corner  of  Hope  and  Power  streets,  and 
change  the  name  of  the  church  to  Hope  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  About  this  time  a  parsonage  was  built.  The  project  of  ar- 
ranging for  and  building  the  present  Hope  Street  church  edifice  was 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


I67 


successfully  carried  forward.     On  Jan.  4,  1874,  the  vestry  was  opened 
for  use,  and  Oct.  22,  1874,  the  church  was  dedicated. 

The  Power  Street  Church  enjoyed  a  season  of  prosperity  extend- 
ing nearly  twenty  years,  when  the  interest  began  to  waver.  The  mem- 
bership increased  at  times  to  a  strong  number.  From  the  begin- 
ning the  church  enjoyed  a  revival  spirit.  Each  year  there  was  a 
record  of  spiritual  prosperity.  There  were  some  remarkable  revivals. 
The  first  year  of  the  church's  history,  under  the  pastorate  of  Charles 
K.  True,  there  were  forty  conversions.  In  1841,  Charles  S.  MacRead- 
ing,  pastor,  there  was  an  extensive  work  of  grace.  In  1848,  Daniel 
Wise,  pastor,  another  extensive  revival  prevailed.  In  1865-67,  when 


HOPE    STREET    PARSONAGE. 


INTERIOR    OF    CHURCH. 


G.-M.  Hamlin  was  pastor,  the  church  again  was  visited  and  many  souls 
saved.  Under  Dr.  A.  J.  Church,  in  1873-76,  an  outpouring  came,  re- 
sulting in  225  conversions,  saving  over  half  to  the  church.  Since 
this  pastorate  conversions  can  be  noted  during  succeeding  pastorates, 
but  no  general  awakening  has  visited  the  church. 

During  the  Civil  War  the  church  held  together  very  well.  About 
1865  prosperity  was  wanting.  The  tendency  was  downward.  The 
interest  was  on  the  wane.  After  the  new  building  had  been  completed 
n  1874  the  tide  turned.  With  the  new  building  and  surroundings  the 
people  took  courage,  and  the  blessing  of  God  attended  their  efforts. 
A  revival  greatly  strengthened  the  church.  Again  the  tide  turned 
when,  in  1876,  business  depressions  came  to  the  people.  A  debt  of 
$9,500  on  the  church  greatly  embarrassed  the  church  and  hindered  its 
prosperity.  The  debt  was  paid  in  1880,  during  the  pastorate  of  D.  A. 
Jordan.  The  payment  of  this  debt  stands  for  heroic  action  on  the  part 
of  the  people.  It  cannot  be  said  that  the  church  has  grown  to  be  a 
strong  church  in  the  city  of  Providence.  Yet  her  career  will  compare 
.avorably  with  sister  churches.  With  seasons  of  prosperity  there  have 


168 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


come  seasons  of  adversity.  The  finance  problem  has  ever  been  an  em- 
barrassment. Yet  God  has  blessed  the  people,  and  they  still  are  trust- 
ing Him.  With  removals,  deaths  and  financial  depression,  the  church 
as  it  now  stands,  150  members,  represents  a  noble  band  of  people.  A 
Sunday  School  of  200  is  the  hope  of  the  church.  An  Epworth  League, 
organized  Dec.  21,  1891,  is  doing  good  work.  A  Junior  Epworth 
League,  organized  Oct.  19,  1895,  is  a  promising  band  of  children. 


REV.    J.    S.    BRIDGFORD. 

1834.          Jotham  Horton 
Charles  K.  True 
David  Patten 

J834-35-  Hiram  W.  White 
J835-36.  Asa  U.  Swinerton 
1837.  Abel  Stevens 


PASTORS. 


1838 
1839-40. 
1841. 
1842. 

843- 

1844-45. 
1846. 
1847-48. 
:  849-50. 
:85i-52- 
1853-54. 
'855-56. 
1857-58. 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-64. 
865-66. 
867. 
1868. 
1869. 
870-72. 

I873-75- 

1876-78. 

1879-80. 

1881-82. 

883-85. 

886-87. 

1888-92. 

1893-94. 

1895-97. 


Richard  Livesey 
Daniel  Fillmore 
Charles  S.  Mac  Reading 
Ezekiel  W.  Stickney 
William  T.  Harlow 
Asa  U.  Swinerton 
Elisha  B.  Bradford 
Daniel  Wise 
Horace  C.  Atwater 
James  D.  Butler 
John  Howson 
John  Lovejoy 
James  Mather 
Thomas  Ely 
Henry  Baylies 
John  B.  Gould 
George  M.  Hamlen 
John  Livesey 
James  A.  Dean 
Charles  MacReading 
John  W.  Willett 
Andrew  J.  Church 
A.  W.  Kingsley 
D.  A.  Jordan 
W.  V.  Morrison 
Thomas  J-  Everett 
W.  I.  Ward 
H.  D.  Robinson 
F.  C.  Baker 
J.  S.  Bridgford 


PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

Local  Preacher — Samuel  Griffin. 

Trustees — Frederick  P.  Pearce,  John  K.  Harris,  B.  B.  Nickerson, 
W.  W.  May,  Jeremiah  Miller,  Bingham  C.  Stewart,  Henry  B.  Sim- 
mons, H.  E.  Horton. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


169 


Stewards — Arthur  M.  Baker,  B.  B.  Nickerson,  Isaac  W.  Chase, 
Alfred  W.  Pay,  William  Martell,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Douglass,  Albert  Jessup, 
WUliam  S  Edward,  Edwin  F.  Higgins,  Thomas  F.  Milne,  L.  C.  Whit- 
tier,  Miss  E.  M.  Crocker,  Mrs.  Martha  Edward. 

Class  Leader — Edwin  F.  Higgins. 


ALFRED    W.    PAY. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


MRS.  J.   S.  BRIDGFORD. 


Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Alfred  W.  Pay ;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, James  W.  Pratt;  Secretary,  Frank  Thatcher;  Treasurer, 
Isaac  W.  Chase;  Librarian,  John  Higgins;  Assistant,  Harvey  S.  Bridg- 
ford;  Superintendent  Infant  Department,  Miss  E.  M.  Crocker. 

Teachers — Mrs.  M.  E.  Douglass,  Miss  Annie  May,  John  Caddell, 
Miss  Laura  A.  Bridgford,  Mrs.  Martha  Edward,  Mrs.  Eliza  Cum- 
mings,  Mrs.  Minnie  Crosby,  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Webber,  Mrs.  M.  O. 
Nickerson,  Edwin  F.  Higgins,  Melvin  Johnson,  Mrs.  Georgia  Thomas, 
Miss  Areta  Crowell,  Mrs.  Maria  F.  Davis,  Mrs.  Hattie  I.  Chase,  Miss 
Mary  A.  Durfee. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mrs.  M.  O.   Nickerson;  First  Vice 
President,  John  Caddell;  Second  Vice  President,  Miss  Sadie  E.  Reed; 
Third  Vice  President,  Miss  Edith  I.  Harris;  Fourth  Vice  President, 
Miss  Areta  S.  Crowell;  Secretary,  Miss  Ida  J.  Reed;  Treasurer,  Alfred 
W.  Pay;  Superintendent  Junior  League,  Miss  Blanche  M.  Baker. 

Deaconess  of  the  Church — Miss  Blanche  M.  Baker. 


MATHEWSOX  STREET  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

This  third  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  was 
organized  Thursday  evening,  October  19,  1848.  Organization  was 
effected  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Thomas  Ely,  Presiding  Elder, 
he  and  Bishop  Hedding  having  previously  arranged  all  necessary  pre- 


THE  NEW  MATHEWSON  ST.  CHURCH. 

liminaries.  Eight  persons  presented  letters  from  Chestnut  Street 
Church,  nineteen  from  Power  Street,  and  one  from  East  Greenwich, 
twenty-eight  in  all,  as  follows:  Preston  Bennet,  Elizabeth  S.  Bennet, 
Abby  Munroe,  Phila  Sweetland,  Charles  C.  Burnham,  Eliza- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


171 


beth     P.     Burnham,     William     A.     Williams,     Ann     M.     Williams, 

Henry  Baker,  Susan  Baker, 
Mary  J.  Bishop,  John  Hoar, 
Mercy  Hoar,  Anna  Briggs, 
Nicholson  R.  Eaton,  Maria 
Easton,  Daniel  Murray,  Na- 
thaniel M.  Pratt,  Charles  W. 
Fabyan,  Pamelia  C.  Fabyan, 
Elias  Styles,  Abby  F.  Parker, 
Hannah  Frayden,  David  Sis- 
son,  Sarah  Harris,  Allen  Mun- 
roe,  Josiah  L.  Webster  and 
Helen  M.  Webster. 

The  first  public  service  was 
held  in  Hoppin  Hall,  33  West- 
minster street,  Sunday,  Octo- 
ber i.  Rev.  Robert  Allyn, 
principal  of  East  Greenwich 
Seminary,  preached  from 
Psalm  xx,  3:  "In  the  name  of 
our  God  we  will  set  up  our 
banners."  The  new  society 
was  marvellously  prospered. 
Congregations  crowded  the 
hall.  Converts  multiplied.  By 
the  end  of  the  first  conference 
year  the  membership  had 
doubled.  At  the  close  of  the 
second  year  it  had  doubled 
again.  A  more  commodious 
place  of  meeting  was  de- 
manded. 


THE   OLD  CHURCH. 


In  January,  1850.  a  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the 
purchase  of  a  suitable  lot.  After  much  investigation,  the  present  site 
was  wisely  selected.  The  lot,  60x120,  extends  from  Mathewson  street 
to  Clemence  street.  It  cost  $8,000.  Immediately  the  edifice  was  be- 
gun. On  May  28,  1851,  it  was  dedicated,  having  cost,  with  furnish- 
ings, $22,000.  At  that  time  it  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  pieces 
of  church  architecture  in  Methodism.  The  pews  have  seldom  been 
equalled  for  comfort,  even  to  this  day.  They  were  sofa  in  form,  with 
springs,  and  nicely  upholstered.  Rev.  David  Patten,  Presiding  Elder, 
preached  the  dedicatory  sermon  from  Psalm  Ixxxvii,  3.  He  was  the 


172 


SOUI'ENIR  HISTORY. 


first  regularly  appointed  pastor,   Rev.  William  Livesey  having  pre- 
viously supplied  the  pulpit  a  few  months.    The  first  pastor  in  the  new 


REV.  M.  S.   KAUFMAN,   Ph.   D. 


MRS.   M.   S.  KAUFMAN. 


building  was  Rev.  Robert  M.  Hatfield,  who  remained  one  year.     He 
was  very  popular.     Crowds  thronged  to  hear  him. 


THE   PLATFORM   AND   ORGAN. 

This  church  has  always  been  missionary  in  spirit  and  generous 
in   helpfulness   to   others.      In    1859,    during  the    pastorate   of    Rev. 


HISTORY. 


Frederick   Uphani,  a  Sunday  school   was  organized  in   Lester  Hall, 
Cranston  street.     Suitable  measures  were  taken  for  its  support.     Out 


BERTON    E.    KILE. 
Epworth    League   President. 


JOSEPH    A.    LATHAM. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


of  that  school  grew  Trinity  Church,  the  largest  society  in  membership 
of  our  denomination  in  the  city.    Mathewson  Street  has  always  felt  an 


THE  AUDITORIUM  AND  PARLORS. 


honorable     pride    in     this     influential    and    noble     daughter.       As- 
sistance  was    also   given    to   the    school    which    developed    into    the 


THE  BUILDING  COMMITTEE. 


SOU  y  EN  I R  HISTORY. 


175 


Broadway  Church,  and  to  the  mission  which  became  Asbury  Church. 
St.  Paul's  Church  appreciated  a  gift  of  $1,600  from  the  same  source. 


THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ROOM. 


THE  GYMNASIUM. 

In  1871,  after  the  Chicago  fire,  $1,372  was  contributed  in  aid  of 
the  sufferers  there.     This  charge   has  contributed  in   the  aggregate 


176 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


toward  outside  benevolences  $40,000,  giving  to  missions  alone  one 
year  $1,707;  and  for  Christian  work  in  the  city  about  $250,000. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Edgar  A.  Clark,  $9,000  was  wisely 
expended  in  repairs. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  was  celebrated  in  1873,  Rev.  D.  A. 
Whedon,  D.  D.,  pastor,  when  the  entire  indebtedness  was  amply  pro- 
vided for  and  paid  at  maturity  of  subscriptions. 

Under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  S.  F.  Jones,  D.  D.,  the  member- 
ship was  largely  increased,  there  being  over  one  hundred  net  gain 


MRS.   M.  J.  TALBOT, 
For  many  years  a  member  here. 


REV.  M.  J.  TALBOT,  D.  D., 
As   he   looked   when   presiding  elder. 


•during  his  three  years.  To  the  Rev.  Clark  Crawford  belongs  the 
honor  of  organizing  a  chapter  of  the  Epworth  League,  which  bears 
liis  name.  The  influence  of  his  faithful  pastoral  and  pulpit  work  still 
.abides. 

In  1893  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Matthias  S.  Kaufman,  Ph.  D., 
became  pastor.  It  has  been  a  pastorate  of  unusual  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral prosperity.  For  many  years  this  society  had  felt  the  need  of  a 
new  church,  but  it  hesitated  to  undertake  it.  To  add  to  the  problem, 
there  was  a  $9,000  debt  on  the  old  church.  But  Dr.  Kaufman,  with 
his  characteristic  energy  and  tact,  began  early  in  his  pastorate  to 
grapple  with  the  great  problem,  and  after  four  years  of  praying,  plan- 
ning, pleading  and  plodding  one  of  the  finest  churches  of  Methodism 
was  completed,  and  dedicated  by  Bishop  C.  H.  Fowler.  Great  credit  is 
due  the  able  and  careful  Building  Committee. 

The  church  is  located  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  and  is  admir- 
?Jbly  adapted  for  a  great  institutional  church.  It  has  in  addition  to  the 


SOUI/ENIR  HISTORY. 


177 


auditorium  and  vestry,  ladies'  parlors,  gymnasium,  reception  rooms. 
Conservative  estimates  place  the  lot  and  building  to  be  worth  $135,000. 

We  close  with  a  paragraph  from  the  report  of  the  Presiding  Elder, 
Dr.  E.  C.  Bass,  at  the  last  conference : 

"In  December  (1897),  Mathewson  Street  Church  celebrated  the 
completion  of  their  great  work  of  building  a  new  temple  of  worship 
on  the  old  site,  in  the  heart  of  the  city  of  Providence.  The  edifice  and 
furnishings  cost  $80,000,  and  the  pastor,  Dr.  Kaufman,  who  was  largely 
the  inspiration  of  the  great  enterprise,  had  the  great  pleasure  of  an- 
nouncing the  great  good  news,  on  the  day  of  dedication,  that  all  this 
expenditure  (and  also  $9,000  of  old  indebtedness)  was  already  pro- 
vided for.  The  winter  has  shown  that  this  church  has  yet  a  great  work 
to  do  in  the  Master's  name.  The  results  are  justifying  the  large  faith, 
of  the  men  and  women  who  are  guiding  the  affairs  of  the  Mathewson 
Street  Church." 


1848. 

1849-50. 

1851. 

1852-53- 
1854. 

1855-56. 
1857-58. 
1859-60. 
1861-62. 
1863-64. 
1865-67. 
1868-69. 


William  Livesey  1870-72. 

David  Patten  J873-75. 

Robert  M.  Hatfield  1876-78. 

William  T.  Harlow  1879-80. 

Micah  J.  Talbot  1881. 

Henry  S.  White  1882-84. 

Frederick  Upham  1884-86. 

Samuel  C.  Brown  1887-89. 

Sidney  Dean  1889. 
Joseph  H.  McCarty 

Seth  Reed  1889-92. 

Mark  Trafton  1893-97. 


Edgar  F.  Clark 
Daniel  A.  Whedon 
Sylvester  F.  Jones 
William  F.  Whitcher 
Jesse  T.  Wagner 
William  T.  Worth 
Nicholas  T.  Whittaker 
Henry  Tuckley 
Henry  Tuckley 
C.  W.  Gallagher 
Clark  Crawford 
Matthias  S.  Kaufman 


PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Josiah  L.  Webster,  Charles  F.  Hull,  Albert  F.  Davis, 
Andrew  Hutchison,  Joseph  A.  Latham,  Robert  Hall,  M.  D.,  William 
H.  Washburn,  E.  Harrison  Howard,  Frank  H.  Maynard. 

Stczvards — Albert  J.  Manchester,  Wallace  Williams,  George  W. 
Lanphear  (D.  S.),  Thomas  Wickens,  William  L.  Phillips,  William  R. 
Sherman,  George  A.  Sayer,  Edward  Shaw,  2d,  George  D.  Lansing, 
Albert  L.  Morrison,  Henry  A.  Fifield,  Merrill  E.  Johnson. 

Choral  Society — President,  Charles  Z.  Eddy. 

Society  for  Physical  Culture — President,  William  L.  Phillips. 

Literary  Society — President,  W.  I.  Lansing. 

Entertainment  'Society — President,  George  D.  Lansing. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Joseph  A.  Latham;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Wallace  Williams;  Secretary,  W.  I.  Lansing;  Treas- 
urer, William  T.  Brown:  Librarian,  Ernest  Williams;  Assistant  Libra- 


178 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


rian,  Charles  W.  Lansing;  Music  Director,  Charles  Z.  Eddy;  Pianist, 

Sadie  L.  Davis.  , 

Ladies'  Social  (Bosanquct  Society)— President,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Wash- 

mkpwortk  League— Crawford  Chapter,  No.  667:  President,  B.  E. 
Kile-  First  Vice-President,  A.  B.  Cunningham;  Second  Vice-President, 
May' A  Baldwin;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  R.  F.  Belcher;  Fourth 
Vice-President,  Clara  P.  Dyer;  Secretary,  Harry  B.  Brice;  Treasurer, 
Hattie  A.  Leonard;  Organist  and  Leader,  Frank  Streeter. 


MT.  PLEASANT  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

About  the  year  1847  a  little  band  of  Christian  people  in  this  place 
gathered  for  worship  in  a  small  rude  building,  which  served  as  a  meet- 
ing house. 


REV.  C.  A.  LOCKWOOD. 


F.   W.   WING. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


This  section  of  the  city  was  then  a  farming  district,  known  as  Sky- 
High  Hill,  with  but  a  sparse  population,  and  now  and  then  a  farmhouse 
to  greet  the  eye  and  break  the  monotony  for  the  weary  traveler  who 
should  chance  to  pass  through  this  quiet  rural  village.  Since  then 
great  changes  have  taken  place;  the  old  farms  have  been  broken 
up  into  streets  and  avenues  and  plotted  into  house  lots,  covered  thickly 
with  dwellings,  and  Mt.  Pleasant  in  the  western  part  of  the  city  of 
Providence  has  a  population  of  several  thousand.  The  location  is 
quite  elevated,  being  one  of  the  highest  points  of  land  in  or  about  the 
city.  For  this  reason  it  was  known  formerly  as  Sky-High  Hill,  now 
Mt.  Pleasant,  because  of  its  most  excellent  view  of  the  city  and  other 
portions  of  the  country. 


SOU '/EN  I R  HISTORY.  «     ,     -  179 

In  this  quarter  of  the  Lord's  vineyard,  in  this  humble  place  of  wor- 
ihip,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Boyd,  a  local  preacher,  is  said  to  have  preached 
the  first  Methodist  sermon  to  the  people  of  this  vicinity.  He  con- 
tinued some  time  faithful  in  the  word  and  steadfast  in  the  faith,  for  he 
was  a  good  man,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  was  very  plain  in  dress, 
manner  and  speech.  He  earned  his  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow, 
xnd  preached  the  gospel  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  because  he  loved 
the  work,  and  did  it  without  any  money  compensation. 

The  first  class  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  one  Mrs.  Jilson, 
in  an  old-fashioned  farmhouse  about  one-half  mile  from  the  meeting 
place.  Here  many  precious  seasons  of  grace  were  enjoyed,  and  the 
spirit  of  God  was  poured  out  in  abundant  measure;  but  as  time  went 
on  the  society  became  scattered,  resources  failed,  the  interest  began  to 
grow  less,  and  at  last  they  were  obliged  to  give  up  the  field. 

Then  came  a  long,  dark  period  of  about  thirty-five  years,  during 
which  time  nothing  is  known  concerning  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  this  place. 

However,  it  was  destined  to  rise  again  in  due  time,  though  seem- 
ingly crushed  forever.  About  the  year  1882  another  movement  was 
started  as  a  Methodist  Mission  at  the  corner  of  Chalkstone  and  Acad- 
emy avenues. 

For  a  short  time  all  was  well  and  bid  fair  for  a  prosperous  church, 
but  financial  support  failed,  and  after  a  hard  struggle  the  mission  was 
given  over  to  the  care  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  the  city,  and  has 
now  become  a  prosperous  society,  known  as  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Baptist 
church.  Once  more  a  period  of  silence  intervened,  covering  a  period 
of  eight  or  ten  years.  During  this  time  God  was  preparing  a  people 
to  establish  a  mission  that  should  become  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  To  this  end  in  the  year  1891  four  men,  viz.,  William  H.  Til- 
ley,  C.  W.  Crooks,  Samuel  Ingham  and  one  Mr.  Bradley,  were  called 
out  from  their  respective  churches  and  opened  a  gospel  service  in  a 
small  room  in  the  Mowry  Academy  Building,  corner  of  Academy  and 
Armington  avenues. 

They,  with  their  families  and  friends  gathered  about  them,  formed 
nucleus  for  a  church  and  Sabbath  School.     The  society  thus  formed 
was  called  the  Methodist  Independent  church. 

For  a  time  they  seemed  to  be  blessed  with  great  prosperity,  the 
oom  in  which  their  meetings  were  held  soon  became  too  small,  and 
-hey  were  obliged  to  move  to  larger  quarters.  Money  was  never  want- 
ing for  the  treasury,  and  not  infrequently  souls  were  found  at  the  peni- 
_ent  form  earnestly  inquiring  the  way  of  salvation.  The  Sunday 
School  was  soon  in  a  very  flourishing  condition,  and  great  interest  was 
manifested  in  all  departments. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

At  this  time  the  society  rented  the  large  hall  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  Academy  building,  formerly  used  as  a  school  room.  For  a  season 
all  was  well,  but  at  last  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing  began  to  show  their 
nature  and  trouble  and  dissension  arose  among  the  happy  little  flock, 
and  again  failure  seemed  inevitable;  but  not  so  this  time,  for  God  had 
ordered  otherwise.  Thus  on  June  8,  1892,  they  voted  to  join  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  on  Oct.  3,  1892,  disbanded  for  that 
purpose  and  transferred  all  property  to  the  same.  Jan.  8,  1893,  they 
were  formally  organized  as  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  fifteen 
members,  and  Rev.  Lewis  E.  Dunham,  a  supernumerary  member  of 
the  New  England  Southern  Conference,  as  pastor.  Mr.  Dunham  con- 
tinued in  faithful  and  successful  service  until  April,  1893,  when  Rev. 
R.  S.  Moore  was  appointed  to  this  charge  .  During  his  pastorate  of  one 
year  the  church  seemed  to  prosper  greatly  in  spiritual  things,  and 
many  were  added  to  the  society.  Succeeding  him,  1894,  was  Rev. 
F.  W.  Coleman;  1895,  Rev.  F.  J.  Follansbee;  1896-97,  Rev.  C.  A. 
Lockwood. 

At  present  the  society  has  no  church  edifice,  but  plans  are  already 
under  consideration  and  estimates  for  a  building  are  being  given.    It  is 
expected  that  in  the  near  future  a  suitable  house  of  worship  will  be 
erected. 

Depression  in  business  circles  has  been  greatly  felt  by  the  people 
of  this  society;  nevertheless,  in  all  our  difficulties,  God,  who  is  greater 
than  them  all,  has  been  with  us  in  blessing. 


PASTORS. 

1893.  R.  S.  Moore  1895          F.  J.  Follansbee 

1894.  F.  W.  Coleman  1896-97.     C.  A.  Lockwood 

PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

Stczvards — Rev.  C.  A.  Lockwood,  Rev.  L.  E.  Dunham,  Henry 
Wills,  William  H.  Tilley,  S  .N.  Davis,  Edgar  Hathaway,  F.  W.  Wing, 
F.  C.  Robbins,  George  Hinchcliff,  Mrs.  Frances  Pitchforth,  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Tilley,  Mrs.  Carrie  Robbins,  Miss  Estella  Willard,  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Johnston. 

Sunday  School — F.  Wing,  Superintendent;  George  Hinchcliff, 
Secretary;  F.  C.  Robbins,  Treasurer;  Miss  Clara  S.  Taylor,  Librarian. 

Teachers—  Rev.  L.  E.  Dunham,  William  H.  Tilley,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Tilley,  M.  L.  Graten,  Mrs.  M.  L.  Graten,  Mrs.  F.  C.  Robbins,  Miss 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


181 


Estella  Willard,  Miss  Mazie  Rockwell,  Mrs.  F.  Paris,  Mr.  E.  B.  Mer- 
ithew,  Miss  Elizabeth  Scocroft,  Miss  Carrie  Kirk,  Miss  Clara  Pitch- 
forth. 


ST.   PAUL'S   M.   E.   CHURCH,   PROVIDENCE,  R.    I. 

In  1854  a  Methodist  Sunday  school  had  already  been  established 
in  this  section  of  the  city  by  R.  Brown,  but  it  was  in  a  very  weak 
condition.  This  year  it  was  reorganized  and  held  in  Mitchell's  Hall. 

It  was  not  long  before  it  became 
so  large  that  they  were  obliged  to 
move  to  Lyceum  Hall  on  Eddy 
street.  In  1856  South  Providence 
appeared  in  the  minutes  of  the  An- 
nual Conference,  and  then  as  a 
mission,  Rev.  Jonathan  Cady, 
preacher  in  charge.  The  first  class 
leader  to  report  to  Quarterly  Con- 
ference was  R.  Brown,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1856,  and  the  first  stewards 
were  Albert  Cutter,  Samuel  Haney 
and  S.  C.  Read.  January  24,  1858, 
there  were  twenty  members  in  the 
society,  and  one  hundred  scholars 
in  the  Sunday  school.  In  1859  tne 
Conference  left  the  mission  to  be 
supplied.  In  1860  Rev.  Charles 
M.  Winchester,  a  member  of  the 
Broadway  M.  E.  Church,  came  and  labored  with  the  mission.  In 
1863  Pastor  Winchester  resigned  to  enter  the  Union  army,  and  J.  W. 
Bowdish  supplied  the  pulpit  until  his  return,  when  he  took  up  the 
work  again. 

The  hall  where  they  worshiped  was  sold  to  the  town  of  Cranston 
for  school  purposes,  and  the  society  accepted  the  invitation  of  the 
Baptist  society  to  occupy  their  house  of  worship  until  they  could 
secure  another  place. 

In  January,  1866,  they  rented  Temperance  Hall  for  $350  a  year. 
At  the  close  of  1867,  Mr.  Winchester  resigned  to  take  charge  of 
the  Seamen's  Bethel. 

The  first  lots  purchased  for  a  church  building  were  on  the  corner 


ST.  PAUI/S  ci 


182 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


of  Plain  and  Swan  streets,  and  cost  $500  each.  The  first  corner  stone 
was  laid  September  8,  1870.  On  the  3ist  of  December,  1870,  the  ves- 
tries were  ready  for  use,  and  were  dedicated  with  a  union  love  feast. 


REV.    W.    S.   McINTIRE. 


MRS.  W.   S.   McINTIRE. 


This  was  the  beginning  of  a  great  revival,  which  continued  for  seven 
weeks.  A  large  number  were  converted  and  added  to  the  church. 
With  the  aid  of  $500  donated  by  the  Church  Extension  Society,  and 


HERBERT    L.    MARDEN. 
Epworth    League    President. 


WILL,!  AM    G.    HAVVLEY. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


their  own  contributions,  the  audience  room  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated September  6,  1871.  Two  days  later,  at  the  Quarterly  Conference, 
the  name  of  the  society  was  changed  from  South  Providence  M.  E» 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  183 

Church  to  St.  Paul's  M.  E.  Church.  March  18,  1872,  the  church 
property  was  valued  at  $14,755,  with  a  debt  of  $3,576.  There  were 
137  members. 

In  1885  the  church  edifice  was  extensively  repaired  at  an  expense 
of  $6,000,  and  re-dedicated  December  3Oth.  December  6,  1886,  the 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  land  and  ruins  were  sold  for 
$2,000,  and  lots  were  purchased  on  the  corner  of  Potter  and  Prairie 
avenues,  where  the  present  chapel  was  erected  at  an  expense  of 
$17,000,  with  an  indebtedness  of  $6,000.  The  dedication  occurred 
May  13,  1888. 

PASTORS. 

i 
[856-57.     Jonathan  Cady  1877-79.     A.  Anderson 

i860.  Charles  M.  Winchester    1880-82.  T.  J.  Everett 

[863.  J.  W.  Bowdish  1883-84.  Silas  Sprouls 

1863-67.  C.M.Winchester  1885.  C.  H.  Ewer 

1868.  J.  T.  Benton  1886-88.  E.  D.  Hall 

[869-71.  S.  J.  Carroll  1889-90.  B.  W.  Hutchinson 

1872-73.  A.  A.  Presbrey  1891-93.  J.  W.  Webb 

874.  A.  E.  Hall  1894-97.  W.  S.  Mclntire 

875-76.  W.  J.  Yates 

PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

\ 

Local  Preacher — George  E.  Perry. 

Exhortcr — Garrett  H.  Speare. 

Class  Leaders — Marcus  C.  Grout,  Joseph  A.  Wells. 

Deaconess — Margaret  Todd. 

Stewards — Thomas  Crowther,  G.  B.  Burlingame,  Charles  A. 
Bixby,  Samuel  Grafton,  Olin  Hill,  Ira  Smith,  Walter  K.  Steere, 
Charles  Grout,  Frederic  E.  Stewart,  William  J.  Bowditch,  Richard  H. 
Walker,  William  Chaffee. 

Trustees — James  E.  Anthony,  E.  F.  Sargent,  G.  B.  Burlingame, 
Joseph  A.  Wells,  Marcus  C.  Grout,  George  W.  Bartlett,  B.  Franklin 
Gilmore,  Alfred  Smith,  William  G.  Hawley. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  William  G.  Hawley;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  Frank  O.  Warner;  Superintendent  Primary  Depart- 
ment, Mrs.  Mattie  E.  Hawkins;  Assistants,  Miss  Florence  Steere,  Miss 
Lizzie  May  Sweet,  Miss  Lillie  Tillinghast;  Secretary,  Richard  Walker; 
First  Assistant,  Fred  Wyatt;  Second  Assistant,  Albert  Scott;  Treas- 
urer, F.  E.  Stewart;  Librarian,  G.  B.  Burlingame;  Assistants,  A.  L. 


1 84  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Sweet,  Walter  Mowrey;  Chorister,  Frank  O.  Warner;  Organist,  Miss 
Annie  Scott. 

Teachers — James  Thompson,  Garrett  H.  Speare,  Edward  F.  Sar- 
gent, F.  E.  Stewart,  Alfred  Smith,  Isaac  Martin,  Charles  E.  Bixby, 
Marcus  C.  Grout,  Joseph  A.  Wells,  Mrs^  Charles  Fuller,  Mrs.  G.  Bur- 
lingame,  Mrs.  Annie  Grout,  Miss  Ida  Johnson,  Miss  Annie  Scott,  Miss 
Fannie  Greene,  Miss  Fannie  Colwell,  Miss  Edna  Salisbury,  Miss 
Luella  Mulliken,  Herbert  L.  Marden,  William  Eynon,  William  H. 
Hawley,  Charles  Fuller,  Jr.,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Mclntire,  Miss  A.  Tilling- 
hast,  Miss  E.  Caulfield,  Miss  Eva  Barnes,  Miss  Maud  McGlaulin, 
Miss  T.  Ridderbelke,  Miss  Rosa  Allen,  Miss  Mattie  Enos. 

Epworth  League — President,  Herbert  L.  Marden;  First  Vice- 
President,  Frank  O.  Warner;  Second  Vice-President,  Edward  F.  Sar- 
gent; Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Fred.  Wyatt;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Maud  McGlaulin;  Secretary,  Fannie  Greene;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Mary  F. 
Pond. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Rev.  W.  S.  Mclntire. 


TABERNACLE  M.    E.    CHURCH,   PROVIDENCE,  R.    I. 
By  Francis  Nicholson,  Pres.  Bd.  of  Trustees. 

In  1879  Rev-  E.  F.  Jones,  pastor  of  Broadway  M.  E.  Church,  or- 
ganized a  class  in  Olneyville,  in  charge  of  Amos  Walker  as  leader. 
On  January  8,  1882,  a  Sunday  school  was  organized,  with  a  member- 
ship of  some  ninety,  including  officers  and  teachers.  Mr.  F.  Nichol- 
son, a  local  preacher,  was  Superintendent.  In  the  summer  of  1882 
Sunday  evening  services  and  Tuesday  evening  services  were  insti- 
tuted. F.  Nicholson,  under  direction  of  Rev.  C.  L.  Goodell,  had 


TABERNACLE    CHURCH. 


charge  of  these  services.  In  the  fall  of  1882  a  church  building  was 
begun  on  Harris  avenue,  and  it  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  the 
spring  of  1883,  Rev.  C.  F.  Sharpe  being  the  regularly  appointed 
pastor.  The  church  was  organized  with  a  membership  of  fifty-seven. 
This  was  increased  by  sixty-four  as  the  fruit  of  a  revival  in  the  spring 
of  1883,  the  pastor  being  assisted  by  Rev.  I.  T.  Johnson. 

It  was  found  best,  and,  indeed,  necessary,  to  seek  a  better  location 
with  more  commodious  audience  rooms.  So  Dyer's  Opera  House 
on  Olneyville  square  was  purchased,  and  services  began  in  the  new 
church  on  the  first  Lord's  day  of  January,  1893.  It  was  duly  dedi- 
cated, under  Presiding  Elder  S.  O.  Benton,  on  July  I,  1893.  Thus 
Methodism  holds  the  most  strategic  point  in  Olneyville,  R.  I.  The 
prospect  for  rapidly  reducing  the  debt  incurred  by  purchase  of  this 
property  was  good  at  the  time,  but  in  the  fall  of  1893  the  strikes  began, 
continuing  so  loncy  that  a  financial  panic  came,  and  hence  the  church 


i86 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


and  Sunday  school  were  depleted  by  removals.  People  who  had  sub- 
scribed on  the  debt  could  not  pay,  and  the  church  has  had  quite  a 
struggle.  But  once  more  the  society  shows  the  renewal  of  its  vigor 
and  spirituality.  The  Sunday  school  is  showing  a  larger  average  at- 
tendance than  ever  before.  Under  J.  T.  Docking's  administration  en- 
couraging revivals  have  occurred. 

This  church  is  made  up  mostly  of  mill  operatives,  intelligent  and 
industrious  people,  but  in  the  possession  of  little  or  no  wealth;  in  fact, 
many  in  the  church  and  congregation  must  be  assisted  in  some  ne- 
cessities of  life  rather  than  render  such  assistance. 


REV.    W.    F.    DAVIS. 


MRS.   W.   F.    DAVIS. 


In  the  very  nature  of  things,  the  church  must  be  conducted  upon 
institutional  church  plans.  Large  congregations  meet  the  pastor,  but 
many  are  stopping  in  the  place  but  a  few  weeks,  so  the  congregations 
are  constantly  changing.  Yet  they  are  people  who  need  just  such  as- 
sistance and  Christian  education  and  influence  as  can  be  afforded  them 
by  such  a  church. 

The  church  has  a  Sunday  school  of  an  average  attendance  of  200, 
an  Epworth  League,  Junior  League,  King's  Daughters  and  Ladies' 
Aid  Society,  all  doing  good  work. 

The  entire  basement  of  the  building  has  never  been  used  for 
profit.  Recently  it  has  been  fitted  up  so  that  the  church  can  derive 
some  financial  benefit  from  it.  An  entrance  has  been  made  from  the 
front,  toilet  rooms  for  gentlemen  and  ladies,  reading  room,  all  for 
public  use;  also  a  lunch  counter  and  dining  room,  from  which  it  is 
hoped  that  the  church  may  receive  an  annual  income,  which  is  sadly 
needed  to  relieve  the  church  in  the  heavy,  burdensome  debt  that  it  is 
carrying. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


I87 


PASTORS. 

1883-84.     Charles  F.  Sharpe  1890-94 

1885-86      Edwin  F.  Jones  1895-96. 

1887-88.     William  V.  Morrison       1897. 
1889.  Lewis  B.  Codding 


John  A.  Rood 
James  T.  Docking 
William  F.  Davis 


FRANCIS    NICHOLSON. 
President    Board    Trustees. 


GEORGE   W.   AMISON. 
Sunday   School   Superintendent. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Local  Preachers — Francis  Nicholson,  George  W.  Amison,  James 
F.  Mitchell,  William  Horsman. 

Trustees — Francis  Nicholson,  President;  George  W.  Amison, 
Treasurer;  Peter  Robertson,  Secretary;  Samuel  H.  Bailey,  Henry  A. 
Fifield,  Lewis  R.  Willey,  John  H.  White. 

Steivards — Benjamin  Stone  (R.  S.),  Herman  Herold  (D.  S.),  Ed- 
ward A.  Carpenter,  Edwin  J.  M.  Coker,  H.  Rich,  George  H.  Thomp- 
son, William  L.  Laurell,  Margaret  L.  Robertson,  Albert  E.  Titchener. 

Class  Leaders — Peter  Robertson,  Lucy  L.  Gardner,  Margaret  L. 
Eckley,  Children's  Class. 

Sunday  School — George  W.  Amison,  Superintendent;  Peter  Rob- 
ertson, Assistant  Superintendent;  Charles  W.  Williams,  Secretary; 
Titus  Gibson,  Treasurer;  Percy  F.  Arnold,  Librarian;  Francis  J.  Long, 
Chorister;  George  Cray,  Organist. 

Epworth  League — Peter  Robertson,  President;  Edna  Brundrette, 
Secretary;  Walter  Sherman,  Treasurer;  Nina  Schryer,  Department  of 
Spiritual  Work;  Margaretha  Titchener,  Department  of  Mercy  and 
Help;  Charles  S.  Herold,  Department  of  Literary  Work;  Robert  Rob- 
ertson, Department  of  Social  Work. 

Junior  Epworth  League — Irean  Pease,  President;  Edith  Thompson, 
Secretary. 


TRINITY    M.    E.    CHURCH,    PROVIDENCE,   R.    I. 

The  first  meeting  leading  to  the  organization  of  Trinity  Church 
was  held  in  Lester  Hall,  January  16,  1859,  at  9.30  A.  M.  Thirteen 
were  present.  On  the  6th  of  the  following  February  the  Sunday  school 
was  formed,  with  109  members.  The  next  Sunday  160  were  present, 


TRINITY     CHURCH. 


and  on  the  fourth  Sunday  257.  The  first  officers  of  the  school  were: 
Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  Superintendent;  Mrs.  J.  Martin,  Secretary;  Charles 
A.  Williams,  Librarian ;  John  Kendrick,  Treasurer. 

The  church  was  organized  April  24,  1859.  During  the  previous 
three  months  the  mission  was  in  charge  of  Rev.  A.  McKeown,  D.  D. 
Rev.  William  McDonald  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  new  church, 
being  transferred  from  the  New  England  Conference.  He  preached 
his  first  sermon  here  from  the  text,  Acts  x,  29. 

After  the  organization  of  the  church,  the  hall,  seating  500,  was 
filled  every  Sunday.  Conversions  of  souls  were  as  frequent  as  Sun- 
days. The  society  was  directed  to  its  present  location  in  answer  to 
prayer.  The  corner  stone  of  the  church  building  was  laid  with  im- 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


189 


posing  services  June  24,  1864.  The  edifice  was  dedicated  May  31, 
1865.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  M.  L.  Scudder,  D.  D.  The 
church  and  school  soon  grew  to  be  the  largest  in  the  conference.  The 


REV.   J.   M.  TABER. 


MRS.   J.  M.   TABER. 


church  has  been  called  one  of  the  most  earnest,  laborious  and  success- 
ful ever  established  in  Providence.  It  has  ever  been  a  revival  church. 
To-day  its  meetings  are  characterized  by  fervor  and  power.  Trinity 


E.   M.   WHEELER. 
Erworth    League    President. 


GEORCE    W.    SMITH. 
Sunday   School    Superintendent. 


Church  has  one  of  the  very  finest  locations  in  all  the  city.  Many 
streets  meet  at  Trinity  square.  The  church  has  had  a  remarkable  past, 
but  its  golden  age  is  in  the  future,  and  not  in  the  past.  Wisely  man- 
aged, it  is  destined  to  be  a  great  metropolitan  church. 


190 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


During  its  history  of  thirty-nine  years,  the  school  has  had  but 
three  superintendents,  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  Dexter  Knight  and  George 
W.  Smith,  who,  after  more  than  twenty  years  of  faithful  service,  still 
remains  in  office. 

The  church  has  ever  had  faithful  and  efficient  pastors. 

PASTORS. 

1859-60.  Wm.  McDonald,  D.  D.  1877-79.  D.  P.  Leavitt 

1861-62.  W.  F.  Farrington  1880-82.  George  W.  Anderson 

1863-65.  James  D.  Butler  1883-85.  J.  B.  Hamilton,  D.  D. 

1866-68.  D.  H.  Ela,  D.  D.  1886-88.  C.  L.  Goodell,  D.  D. 

1869-70.  V.  A.  Cooper,  D.  D.       1889-90.  E.  R.  Thorndike,  D.  D. 

1871-73.  George  L.  Westgate  1891-93.  R.  L.  Greene,  D.  D. 

1874-76.  E.  M.  Smith,  D.  D.  1894.   *  J.  M.  Taber,  Jr. 

PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — George  W.  Bates,  Walter  H.  Barney,  Edwin  Curtis, 
Stillman  P.  Doane,  Lloyd  C.  Eddy,  George  M.  Hunt,  Wm.  O.  Hood, 
Walter  Ballou  Jacobs,  George  R.  Loud. 

Stewards — George  N.  Bullock,  George  H.  Chenery,  William  H. 
C'henery,  John  W.  Cornell,  Charles  E.  Hill,  Charles  J.  Hood,  William 
Jamieson,  Charles  H.  James,  Edward  C.  Joyce,  Samuel  G.  Pellett, 
George  W.  Smith,  Edwin  Tetlow,  Arthur  H.  Wood. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  George  W.  Smith;  First  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  George  H.  Cheney;  Second  Assistant,  John  W. 
Cornell;  Treasurer,  George  R.  Loud;  Secretary,  Walter  H.  Barney; 
Assistants,  W.  A.  Cady,  Harry  Gould,  A.  T.  Andrew,  W.  Howard 
Barney,  Harry  D.  Loud,  Daniel  C.  Chace,  Horace  C.  Jacobs;  Secre- 
tary Periodicals,  William  H.  Cheney;  Librarian,  George  W.  Bates; 
Assistants,  Charles  H.  Collins,  Walter  K.  Collins,  J.  Austin  Porter, 
Charles  W.  Llttell,  Wilton  E.  Baldwin,  J.  Earl  Read,  Charles  E.  Cal- 
ve rt,  Herbert  Henry. 

Teachers — Jessie  E.  Spencer,  Ina  N.  Wade,  Arthur  E.  Norton, 
Chas.  F.  Hall,  Clara  Congdon,  Lula  Lake,  Carrie  S.  Chenery,  Wm. 
R.  P.  Davey,  Susie  E.  Waite,  Addie  Tabor,  Eliza  Loud,  Emily  E.  Ince, 
Imogene  Smith,  Ellen  J.  Tetlow  Lydia  F.  James,  Effie  A.  Northrop, 
Adelia  C.  Rich,  Susie  R.  Fisk,  Sarah  Walker,  Ella  C.  Avery,  Florence 
M.  James,  Candace  T.  Perry,  Fannie  Ferguson,  Hattie  Carpenter, 
Margret  Smith,  Nettie  Kilcup,  Jennie  Plummer,  Irving  C.  Hood, 
Geo.  N.  Bullock,  J.  W.  V.  Rich,  Edward  Irish,  Josie  J.  Jacobs, 
Hortense  Bullock,  Abbie  E.  Hobbs,  Floyd  C.  Eddy  Chas.  C  Hill, 
Wm.  Davey,  Edwin  Tetlow,  Mabel  G.  White,  Alice  Waite,  Abbie  S. 
Ghody. 

Epworth  League — Edward  M.  Wheeler,  President;  Mary  A.  Pel- 
lett, Secretary;  Clara  M.  Polk,  Treasurer;  Ernest  Bryant,  Spiritual 
Work;  John  J.  Congfdon,  Social  Work;  William  A.  Cady,  Literary 
Work;  Mrs.  George  W.  Butterworth,  Mercy  and  Help. 


WASHINGTON  PARK  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

In  the  summer  of  1885,  Mr.  Arthur  J.  Myers,  local  preacher  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  South  Providence,  in  going  often  to  Edgewood  to 
conduct  services  at  the  Sophia  Little  Home,  noticed  the  large  number 
of  children  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington  Park,  near  Broad  street. 


WASHINGTON    PARK    CHURCH. 


The  idea  of  forming  a  Sunday  school  took  possession  of  his  mind. 
Encouraged  by  Rev.  Charles  H.  Ewer  of  St.  Paul's  and  Miss  Re- 
bekah  Kenney  and  Mr.  Frank  Smith,  he  hired  a  vacant  store,  formerly 
used  as  a  liquor  saloon,  prepared  the  place,  purchased  chairs  and  held 
the  first  Sunday  school  on  August  2d.  There  were  present:  Mr. 
Myers,  W.  W.  Burgess  of  St.  Paul's  congregation  and  Sunday  school, 
William  Pierce,  A.  L.  Dorr  and  George  E.  Perry,  members  of  St. 
Paul's  Church;  six  residents,  including  two  adults  and  four  children, 
whose  names  we  have  not.  Messrs.  Myers  and  Burgess  continued 
their  connection!  with  the  school. 

The  first  church  class  was  formed  November  7th,  Mr.  Myers 
being  leader,  with  twenty-two  attendants,  of  various  church  relations. 
Mr.  Myers  transferred  his  relation  to  Chestnut  Street  Church;  that 
church  recognized  this  work  as  its  mission,  and  authority  of  self-gov- 
ernment was  given  it,  and  to  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Chestnut 
Street  Church  Mr.  Myers  made  his  reports  during  the  year  1887. 

During   1888  this   mission   was   supplied  with   pastoral  workers 


192  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

through  the  "Local  Preachers'  Association  of  Providence,"  Rev. 
Frank  P.  Parkin  being  superintendent  of  City  Missions.  The  officiary 
of  the  several  city  missions  met  in  joint  session  in  the  character  of  a 
quarterly  conference. 


WASHINGTON  PARK  CHURCH  (Interior.) 

The  first  Quarterly  Conference  of  this  church  convened  July  5, 
1889.  The  stewards  appointed  were:  A.  J.  Myers,  E.  J.  Bunker, 
Samuel  Barr  and  W.  W.  Burgess.  Nineteen  persons  received  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  on  Sunday,  September  8,  1889,  at  the 
hands  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Stetson.  A  church  was  organized  with  the  name 
Edgewood  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  first  members  were: 
From  Chestnut  Street,  A.  J.  Myers,  Annie  Myers,  W.  W.  Burgess, 
Annie  Washington,  Delilah  Watson,  Marietta  Watson,  Lily  Myers, 
probationer;  from  Cranston  Street  Church,  Mary  E.  McLain,  Emma 
Washington;  from  Trinity,  E.  J.  Bunker,  Clara  Bunker,  Nellie  Bunker. 

A  new  lot  was  purchased  corner  Broad  street  and  Montgomery 
avenue  (now  called),  and  a  cheap,  plain  chapel  was  erected,  costing 
$289.21.  An  addition  was  completed  July  4,  1890,  and  dedicated  in 
August.  The  Board  of  Trustees  were:  Messrs.  J.  A.  Latham,  Presi- 
dent; S.  F.  Barr,  Vice-President;  A.  J.  Myers,  Secretary;  S.  K.  Mer- 
rill, Treasurer;  Benjamin  Lockwood,  Auditor. 

At  the  conference  in  April,  1891,  Elliot  F.  Studley,  student  in  the 
sophomore  class  in  Brown  University,  was  appointed  pastor.  He 
continued  four  years,  graduating  from  the  university  in  1893.  During 
his  pastorate  the  total  membership  rose  from  29  to  119;  membership- 


SOUI/ENIR  HISTORY. 


193 


of  the  Sunday  school  from  75  to  182.    A  debt  of  $50  upon  the  lot  was 
paid  and  an  addition  was  made  to  the  chapel. 

The  present  pastor  was  appointed  April  8,  1895.  A  new  lot  had 
been  purchased  for  a  permanent  building  on  the  east  side  of  Broad 
street,  opposite  the  former  site.  On  October  6th  the  subscription  was 
started,  with  an  aggregate  of  $1,235.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  Oc- 
tober I4th,  at  which  an  address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  C.  L.  Goodell, 
Boston,  and  at  which  the  subscriptions  were  raised  to  $1,741.  The 
architect  was  Mr.  Oscar  S.  Teale,  35  Broadway,  New  York.  The 
plan  is  that  of  the  Vincent  Chapel,  Plainfield,  N.  J.  It  is  specially 


REV.   FLORUS  L.  STREETBR. 

formed  for  Sunday  school  work,  with  apartments  for  separate  classes 
in  gallery  and  on  ground  floor,  opening  into  a  common  auditorium 
for  the  general  service.  A  ladies'  parlor  in  the  rear  faces  the  pulpit; 
above  it  the  infant  department;  a  large  dining  room,  and  kitchen,  lava- 
tories and  heating  apparatus  occupy  the  basement.  The  material  is 
of  East  Providence  face  stone,  with  brown  stone  finish.  Seating  ca- 
pacity is  about  four  hundred. 

It  was  dedicated  Sunday,  June  28,  1896.  The  former  pastor 
preached  in  the  morning,  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham  in  the  afternoon  and  Rev. 
E.  C.  Bass,  D.  D.,  Presiding  Elder,  in  the  evening.  The  subscriptions 
were  raised  to  $7,876,  and  have  since  been  raised  to  $9,481.  The 
name  of  the  church  was  changed  on  February  5,  1897,  to  that  of 
Washington  Park  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  present  total 
membership  of  the  church  is  140  and  of  the  Sunday  school  334. 


194 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 
PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 


Local  Preachers — Arthur  J.  Myers,  Alfred  Marshall. 

Stewards—  H.  M.  Adams  (R.  S.),  C.  O.  Hall,  S.  W.  Grossman, 
W.  DeF.  Brown,  J.  E.  Stevens,  B.  F.  Rich,  E.  Studley,  H,  M.  Ham- 
mond, G.  F.  Rich,  D.  M.  Pratt,  H.  L.  E.  Pierson,  A.  M.  Slocum 
(D.  S.),  D.  C.  Williams. 

Trustees — H.  M.  Adams,  E.  J.  Bunker,  J.  A.  Latham,  J.  D.  Hall, 
C.  A.  Sampson,  J.  P.  Rich,  A.  S.  Stone,  M.  H.  Paddock,  N.  L. 
Anthony. 

Sunday  School — Superintendents,  E.  J.  Bunker,  E.  J.  Stevens, 
Mrs.  C.  A.  Sampson;  Secretaries,  H.  F.  Brown,  A.  B,  Sampson; 


JOHN    S.    DILLON. 

Epworth    Lea.erue     President. 


E.    J.    BUNKER. 

Sunday    School    Superintendent. 


Treasurer,  George  F.  Rich;  Librarians,  George  Bunker,.}.  A.  Samp- 
son, William  Woodhouse. 

Teachers — Mrs.  R.  F.  Morse,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Chase,  Mrs.  E.  J. 
Bunker,  Mrs.  S.  H.  North,  Miss  Bertha  Rich,  Miss  Alice  Baker, 
Mr.  Frank  Crowe,  Mrs.  R.  V.  Pearce,  Miss  Amelia  Hilkney,  Mr.  D.  C. 
Williams,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Kirke,  Miss  Edna  Sampson,  Mr.  J.  S.  Dillon, 
Miss  Belle  M.  Rich,  Mr.  S.  E.  Stone,  Mr.  C.  A.  Sampson,  Mrs.  Mary 
Woodhouse,  Mrs.  N.  L.  Anthony,  Mr.  N.  L.  Anthony,  Mr.  C.  O. 
Hall,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Adams,  Mrs.  Mattie  Shurtleff,  Mr.  S.  W.  Grossman, 
Mrs.  J.  S.  Dillon,  Mr.  Alfred  Marshall,  Miss  Lucy  Hilkney,  Mr.  W.  P. 
Munroe. 

Epworth  League — President,  John  S.  Dillon;  Spiritual  Depart- 
ment, Mrs.  S.  H.  North;  Mercy  and  Help,  Mrs.  Mattie  Shurtleff; 
Literary  Department,  Carlton  Studley;  Entertainment,  Ella  G.  John- 
son; Secretary,  George  F.  Rich;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Chase;  Su- 
perintendents of  Juniors,  Mrs.  C.  O.  Hall,  Mrs.  S.  H.  North. 


CENTRAL    M.    E.    CHURCH,    ROCKLAND,    MASS. 

Previous  to  1886  there  was  but  one  Methodist  society,  the  Hath- 
erly  Church,  in  the  town  of  Rockland.  Some  of  the  members  of  that 
society  who  lived  in  the  central  part  of  the  town,  realized  that  for  many 
reasons,  Hatherly  Church  was  situated  too  far  from  the  Centre.  Ac- 
cordingly a  canvass  of  the  town  was  made  early  in  1886,  to  secure 
members  for  a  new  society.  Fifty-three  signers  were  secured,  with 
about  two  hundred  dollars  pledged.  In  April,  1886,  the  society  was 
formed.  The  hall  in  the  Dill  building  on  Webster  street  was  secured, 
and  meetings  were  held  there  for  some  time.  Previous  to  this,  class 
meetings  had  been  held  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Cobbett  and  others. 
The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  J.  V.  Cheston,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Hatherly,  and  the  society  was  considered  a  part  of  the  latter  church. 

After  a  year  meetings  were  held  in  Bigelow  Hall  on  Union  street. 
While  worshiping  in  this  building  they  were  set  off  as  a  separate  so- 
ciety. They  remained  in  this  hall  but  a  short  time,  when  they  re- 
moved to  the  Webster  building. 

In  1891  the  society  purchased  the  lot  where  the  church  now 
stands,  and  work  was  begun  on  the  church  building  in  September, 
1892.  It  was  dedicated  November  19,  1893,  sermon  by  F.  P.  Parkin 
of  Brockton.  The  entire  cost  was  about  $5,000. 

At  the  time  the  society  was  set  off  as  a  separate  church  organiza- 
tion, there  were  fifty-three  members  and  supporters,  but  this  church 
has  suffered  with  others  by  removals  caused  by  the  business  depres- 
sion. 


PASTORS. 


1886. 
1887-88. 
1889. 
1890. 

1891-92. 
1893- 


Trustees— G.  H.  Beal,  C.  F.  Cobbett,  C.  A.  Hunt,  C.  N.  Kirby, 
F.  D.  Lantz,  Albert  Smith,  Herbert  Stoddard. 

Stewards—  G.  H.  Beal  (R.  S.),  C.  F.  Cobbett,  Mary  Lantz,  Mrs. 
Minnie  B.  Cobbett,  Mrs.  William  Trainor,  Adria  L.  Lantz,  Mrs.  J  A 
Winslow,  Priscilla  Beal,  Gertrude  Van  Wee. 

Class  Leader— C.  F.  Cobbett. 

Sunday  School — Herbert  Stoddard,  Superintendent. 


J.  V.  Cheston                    1893. 

F.  D.  Sargent 

W.  A.  Mansell                   1894. 

H.  G.  Ogden 

W.  A.  Covington               189=;. 

F.  A.  Wilson 

E.  L.  Hyde 

N.  D.  Bigelow 

S.  E.  Ellis                          1896. 

W.  S.  Fitch 

S.  E.  Ellis 

N.  D.  Bigelow 

J.  F.  Jenness                      1897. 

N.  D.  Bigelow 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

HATHERLY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  ROCKLAND,  MASS. 

The  Hatherly  M.  E.  Church  dates  back  to  1870.  Two  attempts 
had  been  made  to  establish  Methodism  in  East  Abington  (later  Rock- 
land)  previous  to  this.  The  first  was  in  1832,  when  Rev.  John  Bailey 
did  very  efficient  work.  A  church  was  built  on  Webster  street,  at  a 


THE   HATHERLY  CHURCH. 

cost  of  $700.  Services  were  continued  by  different  pastors  until  1845 
or  1846,  when  the  society  gave  up  having  regular  preaching  and  was 
served  now  and  then  by  different  available  ministers.  Some  time  dur- 
ing this  period  the  building  was  consumed  by  fire. 

The  second  attempt  was  begun  in  1859-60  on  "the  Hill."  The  old 
Congregational  house,  kindly  furnished  by  Abner  Curtis,  was  used 
for  the  meetings.  Rev.  Henry  D.  Robinson,  still  in  the  active  work 
in  the  conference,  was  the  first  pastor.  Mr.  Robinson  remained  one 
year  and  there  were  sixteen  church  members.  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh 
followed,  and  the  membership  increased  to  thirty.  But  Mr.  Marsh 
became  discouraged  during  his  pastorate  and  gave  up  the  attempt. 

The  third  attempt,  however,  was  a  success.  The  small  society 
formed  under  the  second  movement  lost  its  distinctive  organization 
and  became  connected  with  the  church  at  Hingham.  But  a  class  was 
still  continued,  with  Brother  Ezra  Arnold  as  leader.  In  1870  a  Board 
of  Trustees  was  selected  by  the  Hingham  Quarterly  Conference  from 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


197 


the  class  at  East  Abington,  with  a  view  to  building  a  chapel.  An  ap- 
peal was  made  to  the  Annual  Conference  for  recognition.  This  was 
granted  in  1871,  but  on  account  of  the  weakness  of  the  society,  it 


REV.    N.    D.    BIGELOW. 


MRS.    N.   D.  BIGELOW. 


was  left  "to  be  supplied."  Rev.  C.  S.  Nutter,  then  a  senior  in  Boston 
University  School  of  Theology,  was  appointed  by  the  Presiding  Elder, 
Dr.  S.  C.  Brown,  and  served  one  year.  On  April  TO,  1871,  the  first 


MISS    ADA    BEAMISH. 


MRS.    F.    D.    SARGENT. 


Quarterly  Conference  was  held  by  the  Presiding  Elder  at  the  home 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Curtis,  and  the  church  was  then  and  there  formally 
organized.  Meanwhile  the  building  was  in  process  of  construction  and 


198 


HISTORY. 


was  dedicated  April  20  of  the  same  year.  The  total  membership  was  at 
first  thirty-one.  On  the  payment  of  $20,  Antoinette  Curtis  was  made 
the  first  life  member  of  the  missionary  society. 

The  building  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Liberty  and  North  Union 
streets,  and  is  a  handsome  structure.  It  cost  about  $9,000,  $5,500  of 
which  was  paid  at  once,  and  the  remaining  debt  cancelled  during  the 
years  1884-85. 

The  society  has  suffered  vicissitudes  in  the  removal  by  death  of 
staunch  pillars  in  the  church,  and  also  by  the  withdrawal  of  a  consider- 
able number  during  the  years  1885-86,  to  form  a  separate  church  at  the 
•centre  of  the  town.  These  losses,  together  with  removals  from  town, 
have  not  been  entirely  offset  by  accessions.  But  a  good  spiritual  in- 
terest has  always  been  maintained,  and  the  church  bids  fair,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  to  gather  in  many  more  precious  souls  into  the  king- 
dom of  God.  The  following  have  served  as  pastors : 

PASTORS. 

1871.  C.  S.  Nutter  1886.  O.  W.  Hutchinson 

1872-74.  G.  H.  Bates  1887.  W.  H.  Daniels 

1875.  G.  F.  Oliver  F.  M.  Larkin 

1876.  W.  F.  Steele  1888.  G.  B.  Norton 

1877.  S.  Hamilton  Day             1889.  E.  L.  Hyde 
1878-79.  Olin  A.  Curtis  ,     1890-92.  W.  D.  Woodward 

1880.  '       R.  E.  Buckey  1893-94.     E.  G.  Babcock 

1881.  S.  F.  Harriman  1895.  E.  R.  Oakley 

1882.  George  H.  Trever  H.  A.  Bushnell 

1883.  W.  E.  Kugler  1896.          W.  S.  Fitch 
1884-85.  F.  N.  Kirby  H.  A.  Bushnell 
1886.  James  V.  Cheston  1897.           N.  D.  Bigelow 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Mary  Alice  Hunt:  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, William  Moseley,  Jr. ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Laura 
Bailey;  Librarian,  Sophia  Beamish;  Organist,  Mildred  Pratt. 

Teachers — Miss  L.  A.  Cochrane,  William  Moseley,  Jr.,  Ada  Bea- 
mish, Mary  Moseley,  Lucy  Curtis,  Emily  Ewell,  Blanche  Curtis,  Mil- 
dred Pratt." 

Epworth  League — President.  Ada  Beamish:  First  Vice-President, 
William  Moseley,  Jr.;  Second  Vice-President,  Mary  Alice  Hunt; 
Third  and  Fourth  Vice-President,  Frank  Curtis;  Secretary,  Blanche 
Curtis;  Treasurer.  Mary  Moseley. 


SWEDISH    M.    E.   CHURCH,   PROVIDENCE,    R.    I. 

The  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  by  Rev. 
D.  S.  Sorlin,  pastor  of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  at  Worcester,  Mass., 
on  the  4th  of  June,  1883,  with  a  membership  of  twenty-five.  Its  first 
pastor  was  J.  M.  Ojerholm,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Nels  Eklund  in 
the  spring  of  1885.  After  serving  one  year,  he  was  followed  by  Rich- 
and  Cederberg,  formerly  pastor  of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  in 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Cederberg  was  very  successful  in  his  work 
during  the  term  of  four  years  which  he  served.  In  1897  a  lot  was 


REV.  C.  F.  THORNBLAD. 


THE    SWEDISH    CHURCH. 


bought  at  the  corner  of  Sabin  and  Cope  streets,  at  the  price  of  $6,000, 
$1,500  being  paid  on  the  lot  when  bought,  and  on  September  22  of  the 
same  year  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  was  laid.  On  the 
I2th  of  August,  1888,  the  church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Hurst. 
The  church,  with  a  small  tenement  house  bought  with  the  grounds, 
is  valued  at  $12,000,  with  a  debt  at  present!  of  $4,500.  Rev.  R.  Ceder- 
berg was  succeeded  in  1890  by  E.  A.  Davidson,  who  served  for  six 
months,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Cederberg,  who  labored  in 
this  field  until  the  spring  of  1894,  when  the  present  pastor,  C.  F. 
Thornblad,  was  appointed.  The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  158,  with  12  probationers.  The  Sunday  school  numbers  150,  and 
ihe  Epworth  League  has  55  members. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  EAST  MANSFIELD,  MASS. 


Episcopal  church. 

building  was  erected  in  1842. 


The  membership  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church    of   this   place   was 
church    which    was    estab- 
a     Protestant     Methodist 
church    which    was    estab 
ished     in     this    place.     In 
1841  Rev.  M.  P.  Alderman 
was  pastor  of  the  Protes- 
tant Methodist  church  and 
came    out    with    a    large 
number     of    people     from 
that  society  and  organized 
the      present        Methodist 
Mr.  Alderman  was  the  first  pastor.     The  church 


THE   EAST  MANSP'IELD  CHURCH. 


PASTORS. 


1841. 
1842. 

1843. 
1844. 
1845. 

1846. 

1847-48. 

1849. 

1850-51. 

1852. 

1853. 
1854. 

1855. 
1856. 

1857. 

1854-58. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861. 
1862. 
1863-65. 


M.  P.  Alderman 
E.  A.  Lyon 
Abel  Gardner 
A.  G.  Bolles 
N.  Bemis 
C.  A.  Carter 
J.  F.  Blanchard 
Henry  Mayo 
Arnold  Adams 
Henry  J.  Pyne 
Francis  Dane 
J.  C.  Fifield 
Abram  Holway 
E.  J.  Stanley 
S.  Griffin 
E.  F.  Hinks 
S.  S.  Cummings 
J.  C.  Allen 
E.  F.  Hinks 
J.  B.  Sweet 
Philip  Crandon 


REV.    AND    MRS.    J.    B.    WASHBURN. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


2OI 


1866-68. 
1869-70. 
1871. 
1872-74. 

1875. 

1876-78. 

1879-80. 

1881-82. 

1883-85. 

1886-87. 

1888. 

1889-90. 

1891-96. 


Paul  Townsend 
Samuel  Fox 
W.  J.  Smith 
J.  H.  Cooley 
Paul  Townsend 
E.  Williams 

E.  G.  Babcock 
H.  F.  Smith 

J.  B.  Washburn 
J.  F.  Connell 

F.  D.  Sargent 
J.  W.  Willett 

J.  B.  Washburn 


THE  EAST   MANSFIELD  PARSONAGE. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — John  M.  Atwood,  Sr.,  Charles  W.  Rathburn,  Andrew 
Phillips. 

Stewards — J.  M.  Atwood,  A.  Phillips,  Phebe  Rathburn,  J.  M. 
Atwood,  Jr.,  Orrin  Phillips. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Pastor;  Secretary,  Estella 
Thomas;  Librarian,  Henry  Thomas;  Assistant,  Orrin  Phillips. 

Teachers — Pastor,  Andrew  Phillips,  Lizzie  Day,  Anna  Day. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  SCITUATE,  MASS. 

By  a  Friend  of  the  Church. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  century  there  was  a  well-known  itinerary 
called  the  "Scituate  circuit."     It  seems  probable  that  the  circuit  took 


THE  SCITUATE  CHURCH. 

this  name  because  Scituate  was  the  most  flourishing  society  on  the  cir- 
cuit. This  circuit  embraced  the  following  thirteen  charges :  Dorches- 
ter, Quincy,  Weymouth,  Hingharn,  Hull,  Cohasset  (which  is  now 
known  as  Nantasket),  Scituate,  Hanover,  Hanson,  Pembroke, 
Plymouth,  Marshfield  and  Duxbury — forty  miles  long,  not  a  single 
church  building  in  all.  From  a  very  rare  and  valuable  old  book,  pub- 
lished in  1837,  called  "Deane's  History  of  Scituate,"  we  quote  the  fol- 
lowing concerning  the  early  history  of  this  church : 

"METHODIST  SOCIETY. 

"Occasional  meetings  had  been  held  by  the  Methodists  in  the 

vicinity  of  Scituate  Harbor 
previous  to  1820.  In  1825, 
we  believe,  a  society  was  or- 
ganized so  far  as  to  be  legally 
exempted  from  the  ministerial 
taxes  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Society.  In  1826  a 
small,  but  neat,  chapel  was 
erected  near  the  harbor.  It 
stands  on  the  lane  which  leads 
from  the  old  parsonage  and  on 
the  ancient  farm  of  Samuel 
Jackson.  Mr.  Taylor  of  the 


THE  SCITUATE   PARSONAGE. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


203 


Methodist  connection,  was  one  of  the  earliest  preachers  to 
this  people,  and  instrumental  in  promoting  the  society.  Since 
the  erection  of  their  chapel  Mr.  Avery,  Mr.  Baker,  Mr.  Keith 
and  Mr.  Holoway  have  officiated,  each  their  year,  according  to  the 
practice  of  rotation  in  the  government  of  the  Methodist  church." 

The  following  extract  from  the  journal  of  the  wife  of  "Father 
Taylor"  (Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor),  is  interesting:  "Oct.  12,  1819 — I  am  at 
present  on  Scituate  circuit,  where  my  dear  husband  labored  a  part  of 
two  years,  and,  bless  the  Lord,  he  has  not  labored  in  vain.  A  large 
number  of  precious  souls  have,  we  trust,  been  brought  to  a  knowledge 
of  the  truth." 


REV.  FRANK  K.  BAKER. 


MRS.  FRANK  K.  BAKER. 


Of  the  records  of  the  earliest  "circuit"  clays  little  can  be  found 
beyond  what  has  been  given.  Beginning  with  1840  this  church  has 
kept  fairly  good  records. 

From  the  records  of  Charles  Noble's  pastorate,  1840,  we  take  the 
following:  "Stewards — Anthony  Chubuck,  Luther  Jenkins,  Simeon 
Bates,  Thatcher  Tilden,  Fred  Hammond.  Estimating  committee  made 
a  report  as  follows:  House  rent,  $30;  fuel,  $16;  traveling  expenses,  $8; 
table  expenses,  $160;  quarterage,  $248.  Voted  to  have  a  missionary 
prayer  meeting  the  first  Sabbath  evening  in  the  (each)  month." 

The  Sunday  school  organized  April  8,  1841.  F.  Hammond  was 
the  first  superintendent. 

1843 — "The  estimating  committee  reported  to  raise  $250.  Voted 
an  amendment  to  add  $50.  Meetings  thinly  attended;  state  of  religion 
rather  advancing." — Church  records. 


204 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


— "The  preacher  remarked  that  he  wanted  for  nothing  but 
money.  He  had  received  between  forty  and  fifty  dollars,  but  would 
like  to  receive  more."  (At  first  quarterly  conference.)  "Of  the  Sab- 
bath schools  on  this  station  little  can  be  said.  We  have  but  one,  con- 
sisting of  a  superintendent,  thirteen  teachers  and  an  average  attend- 
ance of  forty-eight  scholars."— From  the  pastor's  report. 

1846 — "Preacher  reported  a  low  state  of  religion  in  the  church 
generally.  The  Elder  inquired  after  the  state  of  the  Sunday  schools 
and  whether  we  were  doing  anything  for  the  cause  of  missions.  The 
preacher  replied  that  monthly  missionary  meetings  were  held  and  col- 


E.  PARKER  WELCH. 


FRANKLIN  DAMON. 


lections  were  taken  in  them;  up  to  this  time  (March  25,  1846),  $7.92 
raised." — Church  records. 

1848 — "The  spiritual  condition  of  the  church  is  good,  peace  and 
harmony  prevail  in  the  church.  The  means  of  grace  well  attended. 
The  social  meetings  are  interesting  and  profitable.  Sabbath  school 
prosperous;  number  of  scholars  68.  Missionary  interest  good,  monthly 
prayer  meetings  are  held,  collections  are  taken." — The  Pastor's  report. 

In  1858,  during  William  Leonard's  pastorate,  the  church  was 
enlarged  at  an  expense  of  about  $1500.  The  building  committee  were 
"W.  Leonard,  E.  Jones,  F.  Damon,  C.  Cottle  and  E.  P.  Welch."  The 
reopening  exercises  took  place  "Dec.  30  at  n  o'clock  A.  M." 

On  July  4,  1865,  during  Charles  Nason's  pastorate,  the  church 
was  burned  to  the  ground.  The  next  conference  passed  a  resolution  of 
sympathy  and  encouragement.  Notwithstanding  their  great  misfor- 
tune, the  people  rose  nobly  to  the  occasion  and  began  to  take  steps  to 
rebuild.  G.  H.  Bates  (now  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Norwich  district) 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  2O5 

was  the  very  efficient  secretary  of  the  important  trustees'  meetings  at 
that  time.  We  venture  to  give  in  fac  simile  the  report  of  the  initiatory 
meeting  for  building  of  the  new  church. 


The  building  committee  were  "Preacher  in  charge,  Franklin 
Damon,  Edward  F.  Porter,  Moses  R.  Colman  and  E.  Parker  Welch." 
The  plans  in  general  of  the  church  were  furnished  by  Rev.  E.  S. 
Stanley. 

Dec.  3,  1866  —  "Voted  that  the  treasurer  be  authorized  to  pay  $225 
for  the  Gushing  Vinal  lot,  so  called,  on  Central  street.  That  E.  Parker 
Welch  be  a  committee  to  sell  the  old  lot  on  Brook  street." 

New  church  dedicated  Feb.  5th,  1868.  The  new  church  was  val- 
ued (according  to  a  report  of  1872)  at  $9500.  This  is  the  church  occu- 
pied today. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  James  Mather,  in  1869,  the  debt  on 
the  church  was  all  cancelled. 


206 


SOUI/ENIR  HISTORY. 


During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  S.  Nutter  (who  has  since  become 
famous  as  a  writer  on  hymnology)  the  bell  and  clock  were  added  to 
the  church  and  the  spiritual  work  prospered. 

A  good  religious  work,  resulting  in  a  goodly  number  of  conver- 
sions, blest  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Wright. 

Rev.  S.  H.  Day's  pastorate  was  a  successful  one.  Rev.  J.  E. 
Fischer's  two  years  here,  in  i886-'87,  were  very  prosperous  ones  for 
the  church.  A  large  number  of  the  non-churchgoing  people  attended 
the  church  services. 

During  Rev.  C.  H.  Van  Natter's  pastorate,  1893-94,  about  $500 
was  spent  on  church  repairs.  The  church  was  painted  and  shingled, 


OLD    OAKEN    BUCKET. 

etc.,  and  some  repairs  were  made  on  the  parsonage.  Mrs.  A.  F. 
Servan  was  largely  instrumental  in  raising  this  fund.  Rev.  F.  D.  Sar- 
gent returned  for  a  second  term  and  spent  a  pleasant  year  in  1895. 
Rev.  R.  C.  Miller  was  appointed  pastor  in  1896  in  connection  with  his 
work  at  Nantasket.  During  his  pastorate  the  forces  which  had  grown 
faint  hearted  and  had  almost  abandoned  the  work  were  reunited  and 
encouraged  to  go  forward.  During  the  year  the  interior  of  the  church 
was  thoroughly  renovated  and  painted  at  an  expense  of  $300.  A  new 
pipe  organ  was  also  put  in  the  church  at  an  expense  of  $700.  For 
thirteen  years  the  faithful  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  the  church  had  labored 
arduously  to  raise  this  organ  fund. 

In  1897  the  work  which  thus  received  a  new  impetus  was  taken 
by  Rev.  F.  F.  Fitch,  a  student  of  Boston  University  School  of  The- 
ology. He  was  popular  and  successful.  His  unusual  musical  ability 
was  a  great  help  to  him  in  his  church  work.  Mr.  Fitch  resigned  his 
pastorate  in  October,  1897,  to  accept  the  position  of  assistant  pastor  at 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


207 


Wesley  Chapel,  Salem,  Mass.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Frank  K. 
Baker,  was  appointed  to  "supply"  the  pulpit. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  has  been  a  great  source  of  financial  aid 
to  the  church.  The  members  have  toiled  for  years  faithfully  and 
heroically  and  are  still  earnestly  engaged  in  the  interests  of  the  church. 

The  Sunday  school  is  growing  in  interest  and  doing  good  work. 
The  Epworth  League  has  been  reorganized  and  is  doing  splendid  work 
in  the  spiritual,  social  and  literary  departments. 

P.  S. — Here  it  ought  to  be  said  that  the  present  pastor  is  making 
important  history  for  this  church.  He  is  a  student  in  the  Boston 
University  School  of  Theology.  He  is  a  member  of  the  California 
Conference,  having  just  closed  a  very  successful  pastorate  at  Epworth 
Church,  San  Francisco. — [The  Editor. 


PASTORS. 


The 
1840. 
1841. 
1842-43. 

1845. 

1846. 

1847-48. 

1849. 

1850-51. 

1852. 

1853-54. 

1855- 

1856-57- 

1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861. 

1862-64. 

1865-66. 

1867. 


pastors  since  1841  are 
Charles  Noble 
Henry  Mayo 
Samuel  Coggeshall 
Stephen  Puffer 
Stephen  Puffer 
Samuel  Beadle 
Nathaniel  Bemis 
Joseph  MacReading 
Henry  H.  Smith 
James  M.  Worcester 
George  Burnham 
James  B.  Weeks 
Richard  Donkersley 
William  Leonard 
John  E.  Gifford 
Asa  N.  Bodfish 
Ed.  B.  Hinckley 
John  N.  Collier 
Charles  Nason 
Charles  Hammond 


as  follows: 
1868. 
1869. 
1870-71. 
1872-74. 

1875- 

1876. 

1877-79. 

1880. 

1881. 

1882-84. 

1885. 

1886-87. 

1888-89. 

1890. 

1891-92. 

1893-94. 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 


F.  C.  Newell 
James  Mather 

G.  W.  Ballou 
Charles  S.  Nutter 
G.  W.  Wright 

C.  Morgan 
H.  B.  Hibben 
Supplied  by  student 
S.  H.  Day" 
L.  P.  Causey 

F.  D.  Sargent 
J.  E.  Fischer 

G.  W.  T.  Glendenning 
Daniel  Richards 

W.  D.  Collins 
C.  H.  Van  Natter 
F.  D.  Sargent 
Rennetts  C.  Miller 
F.  F.  Fitch 
F.  K.  Baker 


PRESENT   OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — E.  Parker  Welch,  A.  F.  Servan,  William  Manson. 

Stewards — Mrs.  Hattie  Welch,  Mrs.  Edith  Servan,  Hattie  Curtis 
(R.  S.),  Mrs.  Seth  Litchfield  (D.  S.),  A.  F.  Servan,  Mrs.  Eunice  Litch- 
field,  Mrs.  William  Manson. 

Sunday  School — A.  F.  Servan,  Superintendent;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Alice  Manson;  Organist,  Hattie  A.  Curtis. 

Teachers — Mrs.  Hattie  Welch,  Mrs.  Elvira  Litchfield,  Mrs.  Inez 
Merritt,  Mrs.  F.  K.  Baker. 


208 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


Epivorth  League — President,  Mrs.  F.  K.  Baker. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society — Mrs.  Emma  Walbach,  President;  Mrs.  A.  F. 
Servan,  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Rachel  Burrows,  Secretary;  Mrs.  George 
Merritt,  Treasurer. 


M  .    E.    CHURCH,    SOUTH    BRAINTREE,    MASS. 
By  a  Former  Member  of  the  Church. 


SOUTH  BRAINTREE  CHURCH. 

At  the  session  of  the  Annual  Conference  held  in  1874,  Rev.  S.  C. 
Brown,  D.  D.,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Fall  River  district,  said,  in  re- 
porting his  district:  '"I  have  recently  organized  a  church  at  South 
Braintree.  A  very  respectable  church  edifice  has  been  purchased 
of  the  Baptists  by  the  Boston  Missionary  and  Church  Extension  So- 
ciety, under  whose  auspices  mission  work  was  commenced;  and  an 
interesting  revival  has  led  to  a  regular  church  organization,  with  a 
good  promise  of  success." 

In  the  list  of  appointments  for  that  year,  the  charge  appeared 
thus:  "South  Braintree — Supplied  by  L.  E.  Charpiot." 

In  April,  1875,  William  Livesey  was  stationed  at  South  Braintree, 
but  he  was  in  failing  health  and  did  not  reach  the  place  until  June, 
and  was  never  able  to  enter  the  pulpit.  After  about  two  months, 
during  a  part  of  which  time  Mrs.  Livesey  supplied  the  pulpit  with 
great  acceptability,  he  went  to  Cottage  City,  and  a  little  later  to  the 
Heavenly  land.  The  pulpit  was  supplied,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Presiding  Elder,  during  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

Edward  M.  Taylor  was  appointed  to  the  charge  in  1876.  His 
pastorate  was  one  of  marked  success.  It  was  during  his  administration 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


209 


that  the  Presiding  Elder,  W.  V.  Morrison,  D.  D.,  reported  to  the 
Annual  Conference,  at  the  session  of  1878,  that  South  Braintree  was 
one  of  the  many  churches  in  which  many  conversions  had  occurred 
during  the  year  just  closing.  In  the  same  report,  under  the  head  of 
"Church  Debts,"  he  said: 

"Old  debts  in  some  instances  have  been  reduced  or  paid.  The 
principal  effort  has  been  made  at  South  Braintree,  the  seat  of  the 
finest  academy  in  Southeastern  Massachusetts,  it  having  a  property  and 
endowment  fund  valued  at  $300,000  left  to  the  town  by  the  munificent 
bequest  of  the  late  General  Thayer.  At  the  time  of  our  last  Conference 


REV.   W.    H.    ALLEN. 


MRS.  \V.   H.   ALLEN. 


we  had  there  a  church  property  admirably  located,  but  in  very  poor 
repair  and  embarrassed  with  a  debt  of  $2,200.  For  this  sum  the  prop- 
erty was  mortgaged  to  the  Missionary  and  Church  Extension  Society 
of  Boston.  The  embarrassed  condition  of  this  society  compelled  it  to 
dispose  of  the  property  at  South  Braintree.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  Rev.  D.  Sherman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  R.  R.  Meredith 
and  Mr.  Lloyd,  with  power  to  sell  the  property  to  the  church  occu- 
pying or  at  auction.  The  church  was  very  small,  it  having  but  three 
male  members  and  owning  no  property.  To  support  the  gospel,  re- 
pair the  church  and  pay  for  the  property  was  impossible  for  them.  At 
this  point  the  enterprise  was  in  imminent  peril;  it  seemed  as  if  all 
would  be  lost.  However,  being  encouraged  by  the  action  of  the  Dis- 
trict Conference,  I  resolved,  if  possible,  to  save  the  church.  I  offered 
the  committee  appointed  by  the  Missionary  Society  $1,500  for  the 
property,  and  the  offer  was  accepted,!  becoming  personally  responsible 
for  that  amount.  In  three  months  I  raised,  by  private  solicitation  on 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

the  district,  $900,  many  of  the  preachers  giving  generously  to  the 
enterprise.  The  sum  of  $700  was  paid  on  the  principal  and  interest 
and  $200  on  repairs.  A  board  of  trustees  has  been  organized  and 
the  property  deeded  to  them  according  to  the  form  in  the  discipline, 
each  trustee  agreeing  to  pay  the  interest  on  $100  for  five  years,  thus 
relieving  the  church  of  all  embarrassment  for  that  length  of  time.  The 
people,  being  stimulated  by  this  assistance,  put  forth  great  efforts 
and  have  remodelled  the  interior  of  the  edifice,  put  in  new  pews,  and 
made  it  in  all  respects  one  of  the  handsomest  audience  rooms  in  the 
conference,  with  a  seating  capacity  for  260  persons;  and  it  is  already 
well  filled.  The  property  is  now  valued  at  $4,500.  God  has  crowned 
the  effort  with  His  blessing  and  the  pastor,  Rev.  E.  M.  Taylor,  has 
bad  the  pleasure  of  hearing  at  least  thirty  new-born  souls  testifying, 
within  a  few  months  past,  of  their  knowledge  of  sins  forgiven." 

The  pastorate  of  M.  F.  Colburn,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Taylor  in 
1879,  was  a  broken  one.  After  a  few  months  of  faithful  service  he 
was  obliged  to  relinquish  the  work  on  account  of  ill  health.  During 
the  winter  the  church  was  supplied  bv  W.  I.  Ward,  who  was  then  a 
student  in  Boston  University.  Some  material  improvement  was  made 
this  year;  the  vestry  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  refitted,  so  that 
it  might  be  used  for  social  meetings.  In  the  spring  of  1880  Mr.  .Col- 
burn  returned,  much  improved  in  health,  and  resumed  t'ne  pastorate. 
The  church  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire  November  17,  1883,  m 
the  third  year  of  the  administration  of  G.  E.  Brightman.  Under  his 
successful  leadership  plans  were  speedily  made  for  a  new  house  of 
worship,  which  was  completed  and  dedicated  during  the  next  year, 
while  S.  T.  Patterson  was  preacher  in  charge.  The  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  $5,500.  At  dedication  a  debt  of  $1,200  remained.  This  was 
materially  reduced  during  the  two  years  in  which  W.  L.  Hood  was 
pastor.  In  the  spring  of  1890  the  Presiding  Elder  of  Providence  Dis- 
trict reported:  "South  Braintree,  inspired  by  the  incessant  labors  of 
the  pastor,  W.  B.  Heath,  and  his  wife,  has  extinguished  its  indebted- 
ness of  $770." 

For  several  years  the  Methodist  society  at  East  Braintree  was 
tinder  the  fostering  care  of  this  church  and  formed  a  part  of  the 
pastoral  charge.  Since  1891,  when  East  Braintree  became  a  separate 
station,  this  church  has  stood  alone,  until  1897,  when  Holbrook  was 
linked  with  this  church  in  order  to  make  a  charge  to  which  one  of  the 
stronger  men  of  the  conference  could  be  appointed. 

The  growth  of  Methodism  in  South  Braintree  has  been  slow,  but, 
looked  at  broadly  through  the  years,  steady  and  sure. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  211 

PASTORS. 

1874.  L.  E.  Charpiot  1884.          Samuel  T.  Patterson 

1875.  William  Livesey  1885-86.     W.  Lenoir  Hood 
1876-78.     Edward  M.  Taylor  1887-90.     William  B.  Heath 

1879.  Marcus  F.  Colburn          1891-92.     George  A.  Sisson 
William  I.  Ward  1^>9Z~9S-     Sherman  E.  Ellis 

1880.  Marcus  F.  Colburn  1896.          Charles  H.  Walter 
1881-83.     George  E.  Brightman      1897.          William  H.  Allen 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees — H.  H.  Snow,  Royal  Belcher,  James  T.  Stevens,  James 
Chick,  E.  A.  Fisher,  E.  A.  Hale. 

Stewards — Clayton  Freeman  (R.  S.),  Arthur  Hale,.  Henry  T. 
Cushman,  Myron  Belcher,  Charles  Saunders,  Walter  Holbrook 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Clayton  Freeman;  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent, E.  A.  Fisher;  Secretary,  Miss  Florence  Arnold. 

Epworth  League — President,  Miss  Louise  Jenkins;  First  Vice- 
President,  Henry  T.  Cushman;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Allen;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  H  T.  Cushman;  Fourth  Vice-  Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Chandler;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Henry  Bates. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  STOUGHTON,  MASS. 

The  first  Methodist  sermon  was  preached  in  Stoughton  at  the 
house  of  Atherton  Belcher  in  the  year  1806.  In  1810  occasional  ser- 
vices were  held  by  Rev.  John  Tinkham,  a  local  preacher  resident  in 
Easton.  Mr.  Tinkham  made  frequent  visits  to  the  sick,  and  his  ser- 
vices were  so  highly  appreciated  that  he  was  invited  to  hold  regular 
preaching  services  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hezekiah  Gay.  A  revival 
interest  followed  and  Rev.  Artemas  Stebbins,  preacher  in  charge  of 
Mansfield  and  Easton  circuits,  came  often  into  this  field.  He  formed 
the  first  class  January  30,  1812.  It  enrolled  the  following  members: 


STOUGHTON    CHURCH    AND    PARSONAGE. 

Atherton  Belcher,  James  Smith,  Rebecca  Gay,  Deborah  Leonard  and 
William  Smith,  five  in  all.  With  the  organization  of  this  class  Stough- 
ton  was  added  to  the  list  of  appointments  on  Mansfield  and  Easton 
circuit. 

In  1818  the  membership  had  increased  to  forty,  and  a  church 
building  was  erected  in  Factory  village  at  a  cost  of  $700.  Stoughton 
continued  an  appointment  on  the  Mansfield  and1  Easton  circuit  till 
1834,  when  it  became  a  station.  In  the  same  year  it  was  determined 
to  build  a  new  house  of  worship  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  where  the 
present  church  property  is  finely  located  on  Pleasant  street.  This 
building  cost  $2,200,  and  was  dedicated  September  23,  1835.  The  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  Jefferson  Hamilton  of  Boston.  The  text, 
Romans  i,  16:  "For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of  Christ."  Rev. 
S.  W.  Coggeshall  was  pastor. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  built  in  1865  and  1866,  during  the 
pastorates  of  Rev.  N.  B<?mis  and  S.  F.  Whidden.  It  cost  $14,000,  and 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


213 


with  a  debt  of  $5,500  was  dedicated  December  5,  1866.  Rev.  J.  A.  M. 
Chapman  preached  the  sermon;  text,  Matt,  i,  21.  Rev.  A.  W.  Paige 
had  a  successful  pastorate  here  in  the  years  1867-69,  in  which  many 
were  added  to  the  church  membership  and  the  debt  reduced  $1,000. 

Several  improvements  in  grading  and  in  lighting  the  house  were 
made  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Seavey,  in  1877-78.  In 
the  years  1882-84,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Ewer,  the  church 
property  was  freed  from  debt  by  raising  $3,200.  A  new  pipe  organ  was 
procured  at  a  cost  of  $800,  and,  the  building  having  been  injured  by 
lightning,  repairs  and  improvements  were  made. 


REV.  S.  M.  BEALE. 


MRS.   S.   M.   BEALE. 


Rev.  S.  T.  Patterson  folloiwed  Rev.  C.  H.  Ewer,  and  had  a  very 
prosperous  two  years'  pastorate.  He  has  since  retired  from  active 
work,  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  resides  here. 

August  12,  1878,  Mr.  Albert  W.  Holmes,  a  true  lover  and  mem- 
ber of  this  church,  gave  the  society  a  deed  of  a  parsonage  and  grounds 
on  Seaver  street,  conditioned  only  by  a  small  annuity.  In  1895  the  so- 
ciety received  a  bequest  of  $5,000  from  the!  Charles  Drake  estate. 
Mr.  Holmes  bought  the  parsonage  property  on  Seaver  street,  sold  the 
society  a  fine  lot  adjoining  the  church  plot  on  Pleasant  street,  and 
the  society  built  one  of  the  finest  of  parsonages,  which  was  first  occu- 
pied by  Rev.  Henry  W.  Brown,  whose  pastorate  extended  from  De- 
cember, 1894,  to  April,  1897. 

PASTORS. 


1812.  Artemas  Stebbins 

1813.  Josiah  Chamberlain 


1814-15.     Orlando  Hinds 
1816.          Jason  Walker 


214 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


1817. 
1818. 

1819. 
1820. 
1821. 

1822. 
1823. 

1824. 
1825. 

1826. 
1827. 

1828. 
1829. 
1830. 

1831. 

1832. 

1833- 

1834. 
1835- 


Elisha  Streeter  1836. 

Isaac  Jennison  1837. 

Elisha  Streeter  1838. 

Isaac  Bonney  1839. 

Charles  Baker  1840-41. 

Hezekiah  Thatcher  1842. 

Alpheus  Hay  den  1843-44. 

John  Hardy  1845-46. 

Eleazer  Steele  1847-48. 

J.  McKee  1849. 

V.  R.  Osbora  1850-51. 

E.  K.  Avery  1852. 

H.  Perry  1853-54. 

A.  Lummis  !855-56. 

Charles  Virgin  1857-58 

Charles  Virgin  1859-60. 

Hiram  Walden  1861-62. 

Phineas  Peck  1863-64. 

Ebenezer  Blake  1865. 

George  Stowe  1866. 

Ebenezer  Blake  1867-69. 

Elias  Scott  1870. 

Lewis  Bates  1871. 

Sanford  Benton  1872-74. 

George  Pickering  1875-76. 

Lewis  Bates  1877-78. 

Sanford  Benton  1879-81. 

George  Pickering  1882-84. 

J.  Lovejoy  1885-86. 

Dexter  S.  King  1887-88. 

Lemuel  Harlow  1889-90. 

S.  Palmer  1891-93. 

Warren  Emerson  1894. 

P.  W.  Nichols  1895-96. 

Apollos  Hale  1897. 
S.  W.  Coggeshall 


John  W.  Case 
H.  S.  Crandall 
George  Poole 
Israel  Washburn 
Franklin  Fisk 
Wm.  Holmes 
Philip  Crandon 
John  C.  Goodrich 
Joseph  MacReading 
George  C.  Munger 
Philip  Crandon 
Thomas  Spilstead 
Lorenzo  White 
Abel  Gardiner 
Moses  Chase 
Charles  Hammond 
W.  H.  Richards 
George  M.  Hamlen 
Nathaniel  Bemis 
S.  F.  Whidden 
A.  W.  Paige 
Robert  Parsons 
Z.  S.  Haynes 
C.  N.  Hinckley 
J.  Livesey 
A.  W.  Seavey 
J.  Mather 

C.  H.  Ewer 

S.  T.  Patterson 
J.  Oldham 
E.  D.  Hall 

D.  P.  Leavitt 
G.  E.  Dunbar 
H.  W.  Brown 
S.  M.  Beale 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — A.  W.  Holmes,  John  Pye,  W.  P.  Gardiner,  Fred  A. 
May,  George  Richmond,  Pliny  B.  Capen,  Charles  S.  Porter,  Jason  N. 
Drake,  Eldon  B.  Gay. 

Stewards — Jason  N.  Drake,  M.  Capen  Porter,  W.  H.  Clifford, 
Jesse  Gay,  George  Richmond,  C.  S.  Porter,  W.  P.  Gardiner,  A.  W. 
Holmes,  P.  B.  Capen,  John  Pye,  Susan  E.  Packard. 

Class  Leader — Olive  Gardiner. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  W.  H.  Clifford;  Assistant  Super- 
intendent, C.  S.  Porter;  Secretary,  Arthur  Haxton;  Treasurer,  C. 
Mabel  Smith;  Librarian,  Delia  Withington. 

Teachers — S.  M.  Beale,  Jonathan  Capen,  Rebecca  Holmes,  Ann 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


215 


E.  Porter.  George  Richmond,  Jesse  Gay,  Julia  B.  Capen,  Emma 
Curtis,  Olive  Gardiner,  Hattie  May  Gardiner,  Mattie  Hunt. 

Epworth  League — President,  Bertha  Richardson;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Arthur  Haxton;  Second  Vice-President,  Hattie  M.  Gardiner; 
Third  Vice-President,  Elizabeth  P.  Steele;  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Ella  Standish;  Secretary,  C.  Mabel  Smith;  Treasurer,  Mattie  D.  Hunt. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Nannie  T.  Beale. 


M.    E.    CHURCH,    NORTH    STOUGHTON,  MASS. 

The  first  Methodist  Protestant  society  at  North  Stoughton  was 
organized  by  Rev.  Thomas  F.   Norris    of  Boston,  the  28th  of  July, 

A.  D.  1836.  The  church  was  built 
and  dedicated  the  same  year,  the 
land  upon  which  it  stood  being 
the  gift  of  James  Tucker.  The 
church  continued  in  this  denom- 
ination until  the  year  1873.  The 
preachers  during  this  period  were 
Nathan  Clark,  Pliny  Brett,  John 
McClish,  Joseph  Eldridge, 
Stephen  Lovell,  Samuel  Chap- 
man, Witham  Tezer,  Joshua  Hud- 
son, George  Winchester,  William 
Manning  and  Thomas  Cassen.  It 
is  recorded  that  a  great  revival 
took  place  under  Mr.  Winches- 
ter's labors. 

In  the  year  above  mentioned 
the  society  procured  the  services 
of  Bradford  P.  Raymond,  a  stu- 
dent in  the  School  of  Theology, 
Boston  University,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  now  president  of  Wresleyan  University.  During  his  ministry  the 
church  was  greatly  strengthened,  scores  were  converted  and  joined  the 
church.  He  was  talented,  zealous,  pious,  and  won  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all.  Under  his  adinistration  the  society  was  changed 
from  the  Methodist  Protestant  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomina- 
tion, and  on  February  23,  1873,  a  quarterly  conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  convened.  After  prayer  by  Dr.  Brown,  Presiding 
Elder,  Benjamin  Tucker  was  elected  Secretary.  The  following  per- 
sons were  elected  to  fill  the  various  offices:  Sunday  School  Superin- 
tendent, Persons  Bartlett;  Class  Leader,  Otis  Monk;  Stewards,  Ben- 


NTORTH    STOUGHTON    CHURCH. 


2l6 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


jamin  Tucker,  Jonathan  Raymond,  Persons  Bartlett;  Trustees,  Otis 
Monk,  Jonathan  Raymond,  Emery  Delano. 

The  church  has  had  a  changing  experience.  Periods  of  trials 
and  days  of  triumph  have  appeared  in  her  history.  At  times  rejoicing 
in  the  love  of  God  and  witnessing  His  power  manifest  in  the  conviction 
and  conversion  of  many  souls;  and  again  overtaken  by  discouragement 
and  almost  defeated.  Yet,  though  cast  down,  she  is  not  destroyed. 
She  has  had  an  honorable  history  and  still  witnesses  to  the  faith  of 
the  fathers. 


PASTORS. 


1873- 

1874-76. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 

1880-81. 

1882-83. 

1884. 

1885. 

1886. 

1887-89. 

1890-91. 

1892. 

1893. 

1894. 
1895- 

1896. 
1897. 


B.  P.  Raymond 
J.  A.  Storey 

M.  F.  Colburn 

C.  L.  Rotch 

B.  L.  Duckwall 

C.  E.  Swartz 
H.  A.  Jones 
W.  L.  Hood 
W.  L.  Burdick 

E.  B.  Randle 

F.  D.  Sargent 
A.  N.  Searles 

C.  S.  Thurber 
E.  D.  Hall 
H.  W.  Conant 
E.  S.  Hammond 
Robert  Crawford 
Joseph  Jackson 

D.  L.  Sharp 
H.  W.  Brown 
J.  T.  C.  Smith 


REV.  AND   MRS.   J.   T.   C.   SMITH. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — Jonathan  Raymond,  Abraham  Jones,  Albert  Tucker. 

Stezvards— Fred  T.  Wright,  Adelia  B.  Tucker,  Martha  A.  Tucker, 
Julia  Raymond,  Herbert  Raymond,  George  May  (R.  S.),  Martha  A. 
Tucker  (D.  S.),  George  May. 

Sunday  School — Julia  Raymond,  Superintendent;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Martha  A.  Tucker. 


M.    E.    CHURCH,    WAKEFIELD,    R.    I. 
By  S.  C.  B. 

Several  persons  who  had  moved  to  Wakefield  from  various  places, 
and  who  were  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  worshiped  for  a 
number  of  years  with  other  denominations  in  the  town;  yet  they 
greatly  missed  the  church  of  their  choice,  "their  own  spiritual  home," 
until  so  great  a  desire  possessed  them  for  their  church  that  they  began 


THE  WAKEFIELD  CHURCH. 

to  talk  of  forming  a  Methodist  class.  Consequently  a  meeting  was 
called  at  the  home  of  Frank  Silvia.  Alexis  M.  Slocum  was  chosen 
chairman  of  the  meeting.  "A  charge  to  keep  I  have,"  was  sung.  After 
the  reading  of  several  articles  of  the  church  discipline  by  Mr.  Slocum, 
twenty  persons  gave  their  names  towards  forming  the  class.  It  was 
then  decided  to  hold  cottage  meetings  until  further  arrangements 
could  be  made. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1891,  the  first  meeting  was  held  after  the 
formation  of  the  class.  Every  week  showed  an  increase  in  attendance 
and  religious  interest,  insomuch  that  at  a  meeting  held  March  3ist,  at 
the  home  of  W.  G.  Burdick,  Alexis  M.  Slocum  was  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  ascertain  if  the  Friends'  church  could  be  secured  to  hold  the 
services.  April  i  he  reported  that  the  building  could  be  leased  for 
$25  a  year.  It  was  voted  to  hire  it  and  several  members  agreed  to 
take  care  of  it  without  pay.  Through  the  month  meetings  were  held 
at  Messrs.  Slocum's,  Silvia's,  Rurdick's  and  Woods'  at  all  times.  The 
meetings  were  enjoyable  and  profitable.  The  first  meeting-  in  a  public 
place  was  held  May  3,  1891,  Presiding  Elder  S.  O.  Benton  of  the 
Providence  District  of  the  New  England  Southern  Conference  occupy- 


218 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


ing  the  pulpit.  After  the  sermon  those  who  were  to  become  members 
of  the  church  were  requested  to  remain  that  the  organization  of  the 
church  and  Sabbath  school  could  be  completed.  He  then  gave  such 
instructions  as  were  required  to  become  members,  and  the  church  was 
organized  with  a  membership  of  twenty-seven.  Alexis  M.  Slocum  was 
chosen  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school. 

The  first  quarterly  conference  met  May  29,  1891,  at  the  church, 
and  the  stewards,  trustees,  estimating  committee  and  Sunday  school 
committee  were  elected.  Alexis  M.  Slocum  was  confirmed  as  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath  school. 


REV.   J.   E.    HAWKINS. 

Services  were  held  in  the  church  until  the  congregations  increased 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  compelled  to  look  for  larger  accommo- 
dations, the  church  being  scarcely  large  enough  to  seat  the  Sabbath 
school.  The  members  believed  the  Lord  would  lead  them  on  and 
provide  for  them  a  place.  They  did  not  feel  discouraged.  As  soon 
as  the  G.  A.  R.  Hall  was  completed  it  was  secured  at  the  rate  of 
$100  per  year  for  Sundays. 

At  the  first  quarterly  conference,  held  September  31,  1892,  at  the 
home  of  Alexis  M.  Slocum,  it  was  voted  that  the  trustees  have 
the  authority  to  negotiate  for  a  church  lot.  December  2,  1892,  at  the 
second  and  third  quarterly  conferences,  S.  O.  Benton  was  empowered 
to  take  the  legal  measures  necessary  for  the  incorporation  of  the 
church.  February  10,  1893,  at  the  fourth  quarterly  conference,  held 
at  Mr.  Slocum's  residence,  the  following  trustees  were  elected:  A.  M. 
Slocum,  Paul  Woods,  Frank  Silvia,  C.  A.  Lockwood,  Rev.  S.  O. 
Benton,  Sarah  C.  Babcock  and  Margaret  Slocum,  and  by  them  a  lot 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


219 


was  purchased  on  Columbia  street,  Wakefield,  for  the  sum  of  $700, 
which  was  $100  less  than  the  stated  price,  but  through  the  kindness 
of  the  owners  it  was  secured  for  the  sum  mentioned. 

During  the  time  that  services  had  been  held  in  the  hall,  there 
was  a  great  desire  on  the  part  of  the  members  to  build  a  church,  but 
not  until  December,  1894,  were  any  steps  taken  towards  it.  Herbert 
R.  Webster,  although  not  a  member,  who  had  always  taken  a  great 
interest  in  the  church,  went  about  agitating  the  subject  of  having  a 
church  building,  and  received  great  encouragement.  December  29th, 
1894,  at  the  fourth  quarterly  conference,  held  at  Paul  Woods'  resi- 
dence, the  following  trustees  were  elected :  Paul  Woods,  Frank  Silvia, 


HARRY  L.  PARTEL,OW, 
Ejxworth    League    President. 


MARCUS  A.  WEBSTER, 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


Sarah  C.  Babcock,  Nathan  Oatley,  Peleg  Coggeshall,  David  Town- 
send,  W.  G.  Burdick,  Herbert  R.Webster  and  James  E.  Babcock.  At  the 
first  meeting  of  the  trustees  S.  C.  Babcock  withdrew  from  the  Board, 
and  C.  F.  Brown  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Rev.  D.  L.  Sharp 
brought  up  the  subject  of  church  building.  After  much  discussion 
and  with  a  general  feeling  that  there  was  great  need  of  a  church  and 
that  the  money  could  be  raised,  the  following  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  obtain  plans  and  specifications  for  a  building:  Herbert  R. 
Webster,  Benoni  Sweet,  James  E.  Babcock,  W.  G.  Burdick,  Paul 
Woods.  January  5,  1895,  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  conference, 
the  trustees  were  authorized  to  build  a  church  not  to  exceed  $1,500 
in  cost,  and  to  negotiate  for  a  loan  of  $1,000,  the  same  to  be  secured 
by  a  mortgage  on  the  church  property  if  necessary. 

The  committee  and  trustees  attended  to  their  duties,  and  on  Fri- 
day, May  24,   1895,  the  First  Methodist  Church  was  dedicated.     At 


220  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

two  o'clock  the  church  was  opened  to  the  public.  Mrs.  Elmer  Thewlis 
presided  at  the  organ,  rendering  fine  music,  while  eight  young  ladies 
dressed  in  white,  led  by  their  chorister,  William  Whittier,  and  E. 
Webster,  marched  down  the  aisle  and  joined  in  singing  an  anthem 
selected  for  the  occasion.  Then  a  scripture  lesson  was  read  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Studley  of  Wickford,  followed  by  prayer  by  Rev.  Joseph  Fischer 
of  Wickford;  second  lesson  by  D.  L.  Sharp;  singing  by  the  congrega- 
tion. Presiding  Elder  S.  O.  Benton  then  read  a  portion  of  the  dedi- 
catory service  from  the  discipline. 

S.  F.  Upham,  D.  D.,  professor  at  Drew  Theological  Seminary 
at  Madison,  New  Jersey,  was  introduced,  taking  for  his  text  a  part  of 
the  eighth  verse  of  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  Mark:  ''She  hath  done 
what  she  could."  The  sermon  was  strong  and  powerful.  S.  O.  Ben- 
ton  then  proceeded  with  the  dedicatory  service,  after  which  subscrip- 
tions were  taken  towards  paying  for  the  church,  which  amounted  to 
nearly  $600.  The  trustees  then  stepped  to  the  altar,  and  James  E. 
Babcock  read  the  article  of  presenting  the  church  to  the  Methodist 
denomination. 

The  new  church  is  thirty  by  fifty  feet  in  size,  and  is  a  neat  and 
comfortable  edifice.  It  is  finished  with  opera  chairs  from  the  Harwood 
Manufacturing  Company  of  Boston.  It  is  lighted  by  electricity.  Her- 
bert R.  Webster  had  charge  of  its  construction  and  Elmer  E.  Booth's 
employes  did  the  painting. 

Rev.  A.  A.  Scudder  followed  D.  L.  Sharp  and  served  the  church 
about  eight  months  as  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor, 
Rev.  J.  E.  Hawkins,  who  was  appointed  in  April,  1896.  His  relations 
with  the  people  have  been  very  pleasant.  There  is  a  vigorous  Epworth 
League  and  a  growing  and  good  Sunday  school.  Mr.  Hawkins' 
address  is  East  Greenwich,  R.  I. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WARREN,  R.  I. 

Warren  is  not  only  historic  as  having  been  the  theatre  of  stirring 
events  in  colonial  times,  but  it  is  especially  historic  in  Methodism,  as 

having-  been  the  first  society  or- 
ganized within  the  bounds  of  the 
New  England  Southern  Confer- 
ence, and  therefore  its  "mother" 
church. 

The  first  Methodist  service  in 
Warren  was  held  in  the  house  of 
Samuel  Pierce,  on  the  Kickamuit 
road,  by  Rev.  Daniel  Smith  in  the 
autumn  of  1879.  The  following 
year,  and  a  few  days  prior  to  his 
famous  sermon  on  Boston  Com- 
mon, and  while  on  his  way  thither, 
Jesse  Lee  preached  in  Warren  in 
the  house  now  known  as  the  "Job 
Smith"  house,  still  standing.  The 
following  year,  and  occasionally 
thereafter,  he  visited,  and 
preached  to,  this  infant  society.  The  Warren  society  was 
formed — it  is  not  known  whether  by  Jesse  Lee  or  Ezekiel 
Cooper — in  1791,  with  a  dozen  or  fourteen  members,  the  ma- 


REV.  P.   M.   BAKER, 
Local   Preacher. 


THE  WARREN  PARSONAGE. 


jority  of  whom  were  Free  Wiii  Baptists,  formerly  worshiping  in  Reho- 
both.  On  Wednesday,  Sept.  24,  1/94,  Jesse  Lee  was  present  and  dedi- 
cated the  house  of  worship  which  had  been  partially  completed  during 
that  year.  He  preached  from  Haggai,  ii.,  9.  Thus  was  dedicated  the 


222 


SOU  YEN  I R  HISTORY. 


third  Methodist  church  in  New  England,  the  first  having  been  in  Red- 
ding, Ct,  and  the  second  in  Lynn,  Mass.  Not  only  was  the  society  in 
Warren  one  of  the  first,  but  it  was  one  of  the  most  vigorous,  having 
by  the  year  1800  reached  a  membership  of  123.  Indeed,  it  was  too 
vigorous,  for  with  its  rapid  growth  came  a  desire  to  become  a  station, 
and  to  have  a  resident  pastor.  This  led  to  a  division,  and  almost  to  a 
destruction  of  the  society.  Indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  three  faithful 
women,  whose  names  were  Nancy  Child,  Amy  Easterbrooks  and 
Sally  Wheaton — names  immortalized  by  their  faithfulness — this  society 
might  have  ceased  its  brief  and  stirring  existence.  But  these  women 
continued  the  meetings  from  house  to  house,  though  deserted  by  all 


REV.  H.  W.  BROWN. 


MRS.   H.  W.   £ROWN. 


the  rest.  And  it  is  authentically  related  that  one  qf  these  faithful 
women — Sally  Wheaton — spent  a  whole  night  in  the  open  air  in  prayer 
that  God  would  "send  them  men  to  lead  the  flock."  This  prayer  was 
heard  and  answered,  and  the  following  year  witnessed  a  revival,  and 
this  historic  church  was  saved.  So  all  through  the  century  and  more 
of  its  history  the  spiritual  tide  has  ebbed  and  flowed.  The  church  build- 
ing, with  possibly  one  or  two  exceptions,  is  the  largest  in  the  Con- 
ference, having  an  easy  seating  capacity  of  1,000.  And  it  is  within  the 
memory  of  many  of  its  present  members  when  every  seat  would  be 
filled.  But  the  shifting  of  the  population  from  native  to  foreign  has 
worked  a  marvelous  change,  as  in  many  another  once  vigorous  church 
in  New  England.  The  pulpit  of  this  church  has  been  occupied  by 
some  of  the  ablest  preachers  of  our  denomination,  many  of  whom 
have  gone  to  their  reward;  and  the  church  has  witnessed  many  mar- 
velous outpourings  of  God's  Spirit,  and  many  wonderful  ingatherings 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


223 


of  souls,  as  many  as  200  being  recorded  during  some  pastorates. 
Heroic  service  has  often  been  rendered,  both  by  pastors  and  laymen, 
and,  did  space  permit,  many  of  these  worthy  names  would  appear  in 
this  history.  The  present  membership,  after  marking  as  "Removed 
without  letter"  more  than  thirty,  is  162.  May  the  same  God  who  has 
watched  over  this  "mother"  church  be  with  her  still ! 

For  many  years  Warren  formed  a  part  of  a  circuit,  sometimes 
being  at  the  head,  while  at  others  it  was  at  the  foot.  And  the  circuits 
of  which  it  formed  a  part  sometimes  embraced  all  of  Rhode  Island, 
with  a  part  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts. 


D.    W.  GLADDING. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


REV.     WM.    H.     RICHARDS. 

Formerly  member   of   Conference. 


PASTORS. 

1791.  Menzies  Ray  nor  1799- 
Lemuel  Smith 

1792.  Probably  Ezekiel  Coope 

1793.  Philip  Wager  1800. 

1794.  John  Chalmers 

1795.  Zadoc  Priest  1801. 
Cyrus  Stebbins 

1706.          Daniel  Ostrander  1802. 

1797.  Nathaniel  Chapin 
Wesley  Budd 

1798.  John  Brodhead 

From  1803  to  1806  the  name  of  Warren  does  not  appear  in  the 
minutes,  but  was  probably,  as  on  two  later  occasions,  a  part  of  a  cir- 
cuit. 

1807.  Jos.  Snelling  1810.          John  Lindsay 

1808.  Joshua  Crowell  1811.          Thomas  Asbury 

1809.  Samuel  Merwin  1812.          Artemas  Stebbins 


Ezekiel  Canfield 
Joshua  Hall 
Truman  Bishop 
Joseph  Snelling 
Solomon  Langdon 
John  Finnergan 
Daniel  Fidler 
Reuben  Hubbard 
Caleb  Morris 
Allen  H.  Cobb 


From  1813  to  1819  Warren  does  not  appear. 


1820. 

1821. 

1822. 

1823. 

1824. 

1825-26. 

1827-28. 

1829. 

1830. 

1831. 
18^2. 

1833. 

I834-35- 

1836. 

1837. 
1838. 

1839- 

1840-41. 

1842-43. 

1844. 

1845-46. 

1847-48. 


Isaac  .Bonney  1549-50. 

Unknown  1^51. 

John  VV.  Hardy  1652-53. 

Unknown  1&54- 

Timothy  Merritt  1855-56. 

Unknown  1857-58. 

Isaac  Stoddard  1859-00. 

Newell  S.  Spaulding  1861-62. 

Robert  Gould  1863-64. 

Nathan  Paine  1865-66. 

H.  Walden  1867-68. 

Nathan  Paine  1869-70. 

Abram  Holway  1871 

James  Porter  1872-73. 

Wm.  R.  Stone  1874-76. 

Isaac  Bonney  1877-79. 

Isaac  Bonney  1880. 

Le  Roy  Sunderland  1881-82. 

Shipley  W.  Wilson  1883-85. 
Wareham  S.  Campbell     1886. 

S.  W.  Wilson  1887-88. 

William  Livesey  1889-91. 

Isaac  Bonney  1892-93. 

Chas.  S.  Macreading  1894-96. 

Robert  M.  Hatfield  1897.' 
Paul  Townsend 


ivaiph  W.  Allen 
Uavicl  .fatten 
banford  tfenton 
Jtlijali  T.  Fletcher 
baml.  C.  .brown 
James  D.  Butler 
Chas.  H.  Titus 
Lucius  D.  Davis 
Sidney  Dean 
John  Livesey 
Joseph  H.  James 
C.  H.  Titus 
Henry  B.  Hibben 
Henry  S.  Thompson 
Micah  J.  Talbot 
Edgar  F.  Clark 
Ezra  Tinker 
Dwight  A.  Jordan 
J.  H.  Nutting 
W.  A.  Wright 
C.  H.  Ewer 
Edward  P.  Phreaner 
Edwin  F.  Jones 
Henry  D.  Robinson 
Henry  W.  Brown 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — E.  M.  Martin,  William  Hall,  William  L.  Collamore, 
William  Cole,  William  C.  Fales,  John  A.  Emery,  Samuel  L.  Peck,  F. 
E.  Dana. 

Stewards — Ezra  M.  Martin,  Dis.  Steward;  Daniel  W.  Gladding, 
Rec.  Steward;  George  W.  Haight,  Secretary;  John  A.  Emery,  Samuel 
L.  Peck,  Frank  E.  Maxwell,  William  L.  Collamore,  William  O.  Tour- 
gee,  William  C.  Fales. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  Daniel  W.  Gladding;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  W.  O.  Tourgee;  Secretary,  Arthur  F.  Covell;  Treas- 
urer, Frank  E.  Maxwell;  Librarian,  Charles  E.  Child;  Assistant  Li- 
barian,  William  B.  Child;  Musical  Director,  J.  H.  Carpenter;  Pianists,. 
Florence  Foreman,  Mattie  Allen,  Jennie  Champlin,  Gertrude  Waite. 

Epworth  League — President,  Anna  P.  Atkinson ;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Bertha  A.  Barney;  Second  Vice-President,  Jennie  M.  Bliss; 
Third  Virp-President,  Corella  P.  Andrews:  Fourth  Vice-President,. 
Sarah  B.  Brown;  Secretary,  Frank  E.  Maxwell;  Treasurer,  Emma  L» 
Brown. 

Junior  League — Superintendent,  Adele  Kemp. 


M.  E.   CHURCH,  WASHINGTON,  R.  I. 
By  W.  S.  Macomber,  M.  D. 

The  village  of  Washington,  R.  I.,  can  boast  of  but  one  church,  and 
that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  history  of  this  church  dates  back  to  a  time  when  it  was  not 
a  Methodist  organization. 

About  the  year  1830  a  society  was  organized,  known  as  the  First 
Congregational  Church.  A  lot  was  purchased  and  a  meeting-house 


THE    WASHINGTON    CHURCH. 

was  built  by  Rev.  Giles  Pease,  who  was  the  pastor  at  that  time.  The 
lot  and  meeting-house  were  sold  by  Giles  Pease  to  Deacon  Josiah 
Chapin  of  Providence,  in  1835.  About  1852  the  Congregationalists 
ceased  to  hold  meetings  in  their  meeting-house. 

For  two  or  three  years  the  doors  of  the  meeting-house  were 
closed,  when  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  a  conductor  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Hartford,  Providence  and  Fishkill  railroad  came  to  Wash- 
ington to  live.  He  thought  there  ought  to  be  public  worship  in  this 
beautiful  village.  And  what  was  to  hinder?  There  was  a  meeting- 
house standing  idle.  He  agitated  the  subject  and  called  a  meeting 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  and  vicinity. 

At  that  meeting  this  same  conductor  suggested  the  name  of  a 
Rev.  Mr.  Doe  as  a  suitable  person  to  supply  the  pulpit.  Accord- 
ingly, a  written  application  was  addressed  to  him  to  spend  two  Sab- 
baths here.  The  letter  fell  into  the  hands  of  Rev.  James  H.  Dow,  a 
Wesleyan  Methodist  minister,  who  innocently  enough  supposed  the 


226 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


letter  was  for  him,  and  consequently  he  promptly  made  his  appear- 
ance, in  accordance  with  the  invitation  he  had  received. 

The  people  were  much  pleased  with  Mr.  Dow.  The  conductor 
wanted  Mr.  Doe  to  preach  at  least  one  Sunday;  hence  word  was  sent 
to  him  and  he  came  and  preached  a  sermon  on  the  ventilation  of 
churches. 

However  excellent  a  preacher  he  may  have  been,  his  sermon  on 
that  particular  day  had  quite  a  soothing  effect  upon  the  people,  for 
a  goodly  number  fell  asleep  during  its  delivery.  This  incident 
strengthened  the  people  in  their  purpose  to  invite  Mr.  Dow  to  be- 
come their  pastor  for  one  year.  The  invitation  was  extended  and 
accepted.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1855. 


W.    S.    MACOMBER. 
Sunday  School   Superintendent. 


MRS.    W.    S.    MACOMttKR, 
Pres.   Y.   P.   S.   C.   E. 


There  soon  followed  an  awakening,  and  many  were  converted. 
The  converts  wished  to  be  baptized  and  received  to  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  The  congregation  was  made  up  of  representatives 
of  at  least  ten  different  denominations.  Under  the  circumstances  the 
questions  came  up,  "Where  is  the  church  to  take  watchcare  of  these 
lambs  of  the  flock?"  "What  is  the  basis  of  Christian  faith  upon  which 
these  brethren  can  unite  in  church  fellowship?"  These  questions  were 
amicably  settled.  Articles  of  faith,  a  covenant,  address,  and  princi- 
ples and  rules  were  unanimously  adopted.  Those  who  had  been  mem- 
bers in  the  different  evangelical  churches  had  their  membership  for- 
mally recognized,  and  on  the  2Oth  of  October,  1855,  a  church  was 
organized  under  the  name  of  the  "Washington  Village  Christian 
Union  Church." 

Very  soon  a  stock  company  was  formed,  which  purchased  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


227 


church  property  of  Deacon  Josiah  Chapin.  Rev.  Mr.  Dow  remained 
as  pastor  for  five  or  six  years. 

In  1861  Rev.  Shadrach  Leader,  another  Wesleyan  Methodist 
preacher,  succeeded  Mr.  Dow  as  pastor.  He  remained  two  years. 
After  Mr.  Leader  came  a  Rev.  Mr.  Byrnes,  a  young  Irish  preacher. 
He  remained  only  one  year.  Afterwards  Rev.  J.  T.  Edwards,  princi- 
pal of  East  Greenwich  Academy,  and  others  were  employed  to  supply 
the  pulpit.  There  were  found  to  be  some  difficulties  in  supplying  the 
pulpit,  and  this  matter  was  given  to  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Brown,  D.  D., 
the  efficient  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Providence  district. 

April  i,  1869,  shortly  after  the  Annual  Conference  of  that  year, 
the  proprietors  leased  the  meeting-house  to  Samuel  C.  Brown  for 
five  years.  During  that  conference  year  Dr.  Brown  sent  different 
preachers  to  supply  the  pulpit,  William  Kellen,  J.  H.  Nutting,  G.  M. 
Hamlen  and  others  being  among  the  number  that  were  sent  to  preach 
for  the  Christian  Union  Church. 

At  the  next  Annual  Conference  Rev.  John  Livesey  was  appointed 
to  this  charge.  He  remained  one  year.  In  1871  Rev.  John  C.  Gowan 
was  appointed  to  the  "Washington  Village  Union  Church."  During 
the  early  part  of  Mr.  Gowan's  second  year  he  succeeded  in  getting 
the  proprietors  of  the  church  property  to  deed  the  same  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  deed  was  executed 
May  7,  1872.  The  list  of  pastors  since  the  church  began  to  be  sup- 
plied regularly  by  Methodist  Episcopal  ministers  is  as  follows : 


PASTORS. 


1869.  J.  H.  Nutting 
William  Kellen 
G.  M.  Hamlen 

1870.  John  Livesey 
1871-72.  J.  C.  Gowan 
1873-74.  E.  G.  Babcock 

1875.  Philo  Hawkes 

1876.  E.  S.  Stanley 
1877-78.  Z.  S.  Haynes 
1879-80.  C.  S.  Morse 
1881-82.  G.  M.  Hamlen 
1883-85.  C.  N.  Hinckley 
1886-87.  F.  C.  Baker 

1888.  Alexander  Anderson 

1889.  C.  E.  Beale 
1890-91.  F.  H.  Spear 
1892.  R.  S.  Moore 
1893-95.  W.  F.  Geisler 

1896.  Robert  Gark 

1897.  C.  Harley  Smith 


JAS.  s.  LEES, 

Treasurer  of  Trustees. 


228 


SOUI/EN1R  HISTORY. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — F.  B.  Smith,  M.  D.;  W.  S.  Macomber,  M.  D.;  James 
S.  Lees,  T.  Oscar  Fletcher,  Thomas  Fauley,  Francis  A.  Place. 

Stewards — T.  Oscar  Fletcher,  James  S.  Lees,  W.  S.  Macomber, 
M.  D.;  Mrs.  Eva  H.  Smith,  Mrs.  Louisa  K.  Whipple,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Phil- 
lips, Mrs  M  A.  P.  Benjamin,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Salisbury,  Mrs.  Phebe  D. 
Edwards  (Recording  Steward). 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  W.  S.  Macomber,  M.  D.;  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  Mr.  Lamphear;  Secretary,  Thomas  W.  Fauley; 
Assistant  Secretary,  James  S.  Lees;  Librarian,  Miss  Mittie  Bowen; 
Assistant  Librarian,  Miss  Mabel  Shippee;  Organist,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Phil- 
lips. 

Christian  Endeavor — President,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Macomber;  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  T.  Oscar  Fletcher;  Secretary  (Recording),  Miss  Flor- 
ence Lees ;  Treasurer,  W.  S.  Macomber. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  .WEST  ABINGTON,  MASS. 

Methodism  in  West  Abington  is  yet  in  its  "teens,"  but  the  history 
of  the  church  organization  dates  back  to  the  fall  of  1876.     In  October 


WEST  ABINGTON  CHURCH. 

of  that  year  J.  L.  Monroe,  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  came  to  West  Abington  upon  the  invitation  of  a  few  earnest 
Christians,  who  were  Second  Adventists  in  creed.  Under  his  leader- 
ship revival  meetings  were  commenced.  These  services  were  held 
at  that  time  in  the  hall  belonging  to  H.  M.  McPherson.  There  was 
no  regular  church  organization  in  the  town  at  that  time,  but  the 
harvest  was  ripe,  waiting  for  the  reapers. 

These  special  revival  meetings  were  continued  nearly  every  night 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  22g 

from  October  until  the  following  February.  Night  after  night  the 
hall  was  crowded  to  overflowing,  even  the  stairway  being  filled.  Un- 
usual interest  was  manifested  by  the  people,  and  the  work  was  carried 
on  with  earnestness  and  devotion.  As  a  result  of  this  noble  effort, 
about  sixty  persons  professed  conversion. 

Out  of  this  number  of  converts  the  first  church  organization  was 
formed.  The  members  of  that  organization  thought  best  not  to  iden- 
tify themselves  with  any  particular  denomination  at  that  time,  for 
some  of  the  converts  had  different  creeds,  while  many  had  no  creeds 
at  all.  They  accordingly  hired  the  hall  owned  by  Deacon  Jackson  and 
commenced  regular  services.  This  occurred  on  the  3Oth  day  of 
April,  1877.  The  original  record  of  this  organization  reads  as  follows: 
"West  Abington,  Massachusetts,  April  30,  1877. 

"A  band  of  Christians  met  at  the  home  of  Brother  Frank  Gurney 
to  organize  a  society.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Brother 
J.  L.  Monroe,  in  the  chair. 

"It  was  voted  to  organize  a  class.  Brother  Frank  Thayer  was 
chosen  leader;  George  P.  Hattie  was  chosen  Secretary  for  the  society; 
Brother  Peare  was  chosen  Treasurer. 

"A  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  secure  the  services  of  a 
minister.  The  committee  were  Salmon  Reed,  A.  Peare,  F.  P.  Thayer, 
Frank  Gurney  and  Caleb  Belcher. 

"It  was  voted  to  hold  our  first  meeting,  as  we  are  now  organized, 
next  Sunday  morning  at  Brother  William  Hattie's,  and  in  the  evening 
at  Brother  Frank  P.  Thayer's." 

The  first  members  of  this  society  were:  Frank  P.  Thayer,  Susan  E. 
Thayer,  Caleb  Belcher,  Julia  Belcher,  Alvora  S.  Peare,  Josie  Peare, 
Salmon  Reed,  Ella  Reed,  Elsie  Mackins,  Frank  Gurney,  Jane  Gurney, 
Betsey  Ford,  George  P.  Ford,  A.  J.  Hattie,  Mary  E.  Hattie,  Susan 
Daniels,  Olive  Morris,  Julia  Orcutt,  Austin  Damon,  Mary  K.  Damon, 
Clarinda  Damon,  Ida  Gay,  Alice  M.  Hattie  and  Wad.  Dean. 

In  the  winter  of  1879  it  was  found  advisable  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  building  of  a  chapel  in  which  to  worship.  A  meeting  was 
called  to  discuss  the  plan,  and  as  a  result  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  investigate  the  feasibility  of  such  an  undertaking  and  to  report  at 
some  future  meeting. 

Land  was  offered  to  the  committee  free  by  one  who  was  not  a 
Christian,  on  the  condition  that  services  be  held  in  the  building 
erected  thereon  at  least  once  in  six  months.  From  that  time  the  work 
went  forward.  Money  was  raised  by  subscription,  many  friends  from 
outside  of  the  village  assisting.  The  chapel  was  rapidly  completed  and 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  1880,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton  preached  the 


230 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


dedicatory  sermon  and  the  chapel  was  dedicated,  with  money  enough 
subscribed  to  pay  all  debts. 

From  1880  to  1884  it  was  a  Union  Evangelical  church.  About 
February  i,  1880,  Brother  Monroe  was  called  to  Maine  for  evangel- 
istic work,  and  A.  H.  Hunter,  of  the  Boston  University  School  of 
Theology  supplied  the  pulpit  for  nearly  a  year,  when,  owing  to  sick- 
ness, he  returned  to  his  home  in  West  Virginia. 

J.  O.  Denning  of  the  School  of  Theology  supplied  about  eight 
months.  He  is  now  a  missionary  in  India.  From  the  first  of  1882 
until  the  fall  of  1883  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  different  ministers. 
Then,  through  a  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  the  committee  on 
supplies,  there  came  a  Sunday  when  there  was  no  one  to  preach.  This 
was  the  starting  point  of  the  movement  which  led  the  church  people 
finally  to  identify  themselves  with  the  New  England  Southern  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

On  the  Sunday  that  the  church  was  without  a  supply,  Howard  E. 
Cook,  then  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  at  Holbrook,  was  hurriedly 
sent  for  to  supply  the  pulpit  that  afternoon.  It  was  through  his  in- 
fluence that  the  people  were  led  to  join  the  Methodist  church.  The 
Union  Evangelical  Chapel  was  taken  into  the  conference  March  17, 
1884.  Rev.  H.  E.  Cook  supplied  West  Abington  and  Holbrook  from 
the  fall  of  1883  until  April,  1884. 

From  that  time  the  church  work  continued  without  any  break 
until  April  of  1890,  when  E.  J.  Helms  of  the  School  of  Theology  was 
appointed  as  supply.  Under  his  pastorate  a  refreshing  revival  broke 
out  and  some  were  added  to  the  church  who  are  now  among  the  lead- 
ing members.  These  revival  services  were  commenced  August  19, 
1890,  and  held  in  a  large  tent.  Mr.  Helms  was  assisted  by  the  neigh- 
boring pastors. 

From  1890  until  the  present  time  the  work  has  moved  along 
steadily,  the  church  doing  its  part  in  the  Master's  service  nobly  and 
faithfully. 

The  church  has  sent  from  its  membership  three  young  men  out 
into  the  ministry:  Ernest  W.  Belcher,  now  a  member  of  the  East 
Maine  Conference;  N.  B.  Cook,  now  a  member  of  the  New  England 
Southern  Conference,  and  Albertus  H.  Peare,  now  a  member  of  the 
Maine  Conference.  It  has  also  sent  a  young  lady  from  its  ranks  as  a 
missionary  to  Africa. 

PRESENT    OFFICIARY. 

Class  Leader — F.  P.  Thayer. 

Stewards—].  A.  Damon  (D.  S.),  H.  F.  Belcher  (R.  S.),  F.  P. 
Thayer,  Caroline  Belcher,  Ella  Reed,  Mary  K.  Damon,  Amelia  Jack- 
son, F.  M.  Belcher,  Minnie  Jackson,  F.  M.  Gurney. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


231 


Trustees — F.  P.  Thayer,  S.  W.  Reed,  Leonard  Belcher,  J.  A.  Da- 
mon, F.  M.  Gurney,  Caleb  Belcher,  A.  L.  Steele,  B.  R.  Holmes,  H.  M. 
Ridlington. 

Sunday  School — F.  P.  Thayer,  Superintendent;  H.  F.  Belcher, 
Assistant  Superintendent;  Minnie  Jackson,  Secretary  and  Treasurer; 
Amy  Thayer,  Organist. 

Teachers — F.  P.  Thayer,  A.  L.  Steele,  Mrs.  James  Slack,  Miss 
Amy  Thayer,  Miss  Edith  Steele,  Miss  Minnie  Jackson,  Frank  F. 
Fitch. 

Epworth  League — H.  F.  Belcher,  President;  Amy  Thayer,  First 
Vice-President;  Jane  Slack,  Second  Vice-President;  F.  F.  Fitch,  Third 
Vice-President;  Howard  Belcher,  Fourth  Vice-President;  Alary  Reed, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Minnie  Jackson,  Organist. 

The  Sunday  school  of  this  church  was  organized  soon  after  the 
revival  in  1877.  The  first  year  it  had  a  membership  of  64  and  an 
average  attendance  of  44. 

The  Ladies'  Sewing  Circle  of  the  church  was  organized  about 
1880  and  was  one  of  the  strong  departments  of  the  church  work.  In 
1895  it  was  reorganized,  as  many  of  the  members  had  dropped  out, 
and  it  still  remains  as  a  valuable  support  to  the  church.  The  present 
officers  are:  Marietta  Blanchard,  President;  Mary  Damon,  Vice- 
President;  Caroline  Belcher,  Secretary;  Hattie  E.  Belcher,  Treasurer 


PASTORS. 

1883.  Howard  E.  Cook. 

1884  George  E.  Brightman 

1885  T.  A.  Everett 

1886.  Samuel  F.  Johnson 

1887.  L.  A.  Core 
1888-89.  J-  C.  Willitts 

R.  H.  Kennedy 

1890.  E.  J.  Helms 

1891.  Charles  E.  Beals 
1892-94.  A.  B.  Williams 
1894-95.  Charles  H.  Williams 

1896.  Francis  F.  Fitch 

1897.  W.  F.  Geisler 


II.     F.    BELCHER. 
Lith     League     President. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WICKFORD,  R.  I. 

Jesse  Lee  preached  in  Wickford  in  1793.  The  first  Methodist 
class  was  organized  in  1794.  The  early  records  were  loaned  and  lost, 
but  it  is  certain  that  Wickford  was  a  regular  preaching  appointment 


THE  WICKFORD  CHURCH. 


in  the  old  Warwick  Circuit  days,  and  shared  in  the  frequent  revivals 
of  religion  that  attended  the  labors  of  the  early  itinerant  ministers. 


REV.   C.  H.   EWER. 


H.    E.    TOURGEE. 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


In  1815  there  were  a  number  of  conversions,  and  among  them  that 
of  Gideon  S.  Hunt,  then  about  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
class  leader  for  nearly  fifty  years.  His  home  was  always  open  for  the 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


233 


entertainment  of  the  preachers  and  for  the  holding-  of  religious  ser- 
vices, where  many  sought  the  Lord  and  were  confirmed  in  faith  and 
holy  living  through  the  pious  example  and  wise  counsels  of  this 
servant  of  God. 

Two  class  papers,  dated  respectively  1823  and  1826,  are  still  pre- 
served, and  these  contain  the  only  reliable  lists  of  members  prior  to 
1848.  Each  list  contains  sixteen  names. 

After  the  circuit  plan  was  abandoned,  Wickford  was  connected 
with  East  Greenwich,  and  the  memberships  were  recorded  there. 


REV.  J.  E.   FISCHER,   Evangelist. 


MRS.   MARY  M.   GARDNER. 


Upon  the  death  of  Father  Hunt  in  1863,  John  Willis  was  appointed 
leader,  and  the  revised  list  contained  the  names  of  twenty-four  mem- 
bers. For  many  years,  with  occasional  interruptions,  the  class  meet- 
ings were  held,  and  Sunday  services  also,  with  preaching  by  members 
of  the  faculty  and  students  of  East  Greenwich  Academy.  Revs.  Robert 
Allen,  C.  M.  Alvord,  W.  F.  Mallalieu  and  C.  H.  Payne  are  well  re- 
membered. Dr.  C.  H.  Payne,  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  found  his  bride  in  Wickford,  Miss 
Mary  Eleanor  Gardner,  whose  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Gardner,  now 
ninety  years  of  age,  still  lives,  the  oldest  surviving-  member  of  the 
Wickford  Church,  who,  while  not  able  to  attend  the  church  services, 
shows  unabated  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  work  of  the  Lord. 


234 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


The  Wickford  Church  was  formally  organized  April  n,  1885, 
and  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Fischer  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge.  Steps 
were  immediately  taken  to  secure  a  suitable  house  of  worship.  A  lot 
of  land  valued  at  $1,000  was  donated  by  Dr.  George  C.  Soule  and  wife, 
and  plans  for  the  building  were  adopted.  The  work  began  at  once  and 
the  new  church  was  dedicated  January  2,  1886. 

From  the  organization  of  the  church  (1885)  to  the  present  date 
(1897),  158  names  have  been  enrolled  as  full  members.  The  present 
membership  is  95. 


1885. 

1886-87. 

1888-89. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892-93. 

1894. 

1895. 

1896-97. 


PASTORS. 

J.  E.  Fischer 
F.  J.  Follansbee 
F.  C.  Newell 
T.  M.  Culver 
M.  W.  Reece 

D.  L.  Brown 

W.  D.  Woodward 

E.  F.  Studley 
C.  H.  Ewer 


THE  WICKFORD  PARSONAGE. 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 


Trustees — George  C.  Soule,  M.  D.,  John  Willis,  H.  E.  Tourgee, 
Clark  R.  Himes. 

Stewards — H.  E.  Tourgee,  John  Willis,  C.  R.  Himes,  Joseph  D. 
Parkhurst,  Reuben  Secor,  Edwin  V.  Himes,  Rev.  J.  E.  Fischer,  Rollin 
E.  Mason,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Northup,  Mrs.  Edna  F.  Chappell,  Miss 
Ella  M.  Knight,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Secor. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  H.  E.  Tourgee. 

Class  Leader — C.  R.  Himes. 

Epworth  League — President,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Ewer;  Secretary,  Miss 
Nellie  D.  Smith. 


FIRST  M.  E.  CHURCH,  WOONSOCKET,  R.  I. 


Woonsocket  charge  was  formerly  a  part  of  the  Northbridge  cir- 
cuit, and  the  preaching  services  were  held  in  a  schoolhouse  near  Me- 


WOONSOCKET    CHURCH    AND    PARSONAGE. 

chanics'  Corner.  At  the  session  of  the  New  England  Conference  held 
in  1834,  the  circuit  was  divided  and  this  charge  embraced  Woonsocket, 
Blackstone  and  Slaterville. 


REV.    H.    B.    CADY. 


MRS.   H.    B.    CADY. 


The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Blackstone,  July  10-12  of 
that  year,  Rev.  Orange  Scott,  Presiding  Elder;  Rev.  Wells  Walcott, 
preacher  in  charge.  The  preacher's  estimate  for  "table  expenses,  light, 
fuel,  etc.,"  was  $140. 

The  church  edifice   was  erected  in  1836-37,  and  in   1860  $3,000 


236 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


was  expended  on  alterations  and  repairs,  the  building  was  raised,  and 
a  vestry  added,  all  of  which  remain  until  this  time,  but  a  new  church 


MISS    IDA   HICKS, 
Junior  League  President. 


JOSEPH    B.    COLE. 
President    Board   Trustees. 


is  among  the  anticipated  things  of  the  near  future.     The  parsonage 
was  built  in  1863. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  McKendree  Bray,  1870-71, 
there  was  a  good  revival  that  renewed  the  church. 


JOHN    A.    YOUNG. 
Epworth    League    President. 


WM.    H.    PARR. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent. 


In  1872,  while  Rev.  Charles  Nason  was  pastor,  a  handsome  pipe 
organ,  costing  $1,800,  was  placed  in  the  church.  It  was  almost  entirely 
the  gift  of  a  single  member  of  the  congregation,  Mr.  George  Law. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


237 


In  1873,  during  Rev.  N.  G.  Axtell's  pastorate,  the  parsonage  was 
relieved  from  a  heavy  debt  by  the  will  of  George  Law,  who  held  a 
claim  on  the  house. 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Hawkins  was  blessed  with  a  most  re- 
freshing revival. 


PASTORS. 
1861. 


1834.  Wells  Walcott 

I^35~3°-  Hiram  Cummings  1862-63. 

1837.  D.  H.  P.annister  1864-65. 

1838.  Ephraim  Scott  1866-67. 
1839-40.  Richard  Livesey  1868-69. 
1841  Apollos  Hall  1870-71. 

1842.  Ebenezer  Blake  1872. 

1843.  Hebron  Vincent  1873-74. 
Cyrus  C.  Munger  1  875-77. 

1844-45.  S.  W.  Coggshall  1878-79. 

1846-47.  Warren  Emerson  1880-82. 

1848-49.  Charles  H.  Titus  1883-85. 

1850.  George  W.  Wooding  1886-88. 

1851-52.  John  Lovejoy  1889-91. 

1853-54.  Philip  Crandon  1892-94. 

I^55"56-  George  C.  Bancroft  189^-96. 

1857-58.  E.  B.  Bradford  1897. 

1859-60.  William  Livesey 


Thomas  Ely 
David  H.  Ela 
J.  W.  Willett 
E.  A.  Lyon 
E.  H.  Hatfteld 
Wijiiam  McK.  Bray 
Charles  Nason 
N.  G.  Axtell 
T-  E.  Hawkins 
A.  P.  Palmer 
Alexander  Anderson 
J.  W.  Wiilett 
J.  H.  Nutting 
H.  E.  Cool: 
John  Oldham 
William  H.  AUen 
H.  B.  Cadv 


PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Trustees-  -Joseph  E.  Cole,  George  W.  Lothrop,  Abram  Bottom- 
ley,  Dr.  A.  W.  Buckland,  Vinson  K.  Nash,  Edmund  W.  Kent,  George 
Taylor,  George  W.  Lackey. 

Stewards — William  L.  Chase,  E.  C.  Gammage,  George  French. 
Vinson  K.  Nash,  Benj.  J.  Blazier,  Frank  E.  Kettlety,  Henry  Webb, 
Everett  Barnett,  William  Part. 

Church  Chorister — Prof.  F.  E.  Kettlety. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent.  William  H.  Parr:  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent. Frank  E.  Kettlety;  Secretary,  Miss  Ida  Hicks;  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Jennie  Lothrop;  Librarian,  Fred  Hicks;  Organist,  Miss 
Jennie  Blazier. 

Epworth  League- — President,  John  A.  Young;  First  Vice-President, 
William  H.  Parr;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Samantha  Greene; 
Third  Vice-President.  Clarence  Flagg;  Fourth  Vice-President,  Miss 
Ida  Hicks;  Secretarv.  Miss  Jennie  Lothrop;  Treasurer,  Miss  Eliza 
Bennett;  Superintendent  of  Junior  League,  Miss  Ida  Hicks. 

Ladies1  Social  Circle — President,  Mrs.  John  Roney;  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Ellen  E.  Orchard;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Benj.  J.  Blazier;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Fred  Cowden. 


WANSKUCK  M.  E.  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

When  Bishop  Merrill  announced  the  appointments  for  1888  he 
read,  among  the  assignments  to  work  in  the  city  of  Providence, 
"Cranston  Street  and  City  Missions,  F.  P.  Parkin."  One  of  these 
missions  was  located  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city,  in  a  district 


THE    WANSKUCK    CHURCH. 


known  as  "Wanskuck."  A  Sunday  school  had  been  organized  here, 
and,  though  small,  was  prosperous.  Mr.  Parkin  organized  a  body  of 
local  preachers,  who  aided  him  by  supplying  in  turn  the  several  mis- 
sion stations.  Thus  Wanskuck  became  a  point  for  regular  Methodist 
preaching  services.  The  next  year,  1889,  the  name  appeared  in  the 
Conference  Year  Book  in  the  statistical  tables,  where  it  was  reported 
that  the  Wanskuck  Sunday  school  enrolled  eight  officers  and  teachers 
and  thirty-six  scholars,  and  also  that  $50  had  been  raised  for  pastoral 
support  and  a  similar  sum  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  Sunday  school, 
beside  $130  for  current  expenses,  including  sexton,  fuel,  light  and  other 
small  items.  No  church  members  or  probationers  were  reported,  yet 
it  was  stated  that  seven  of  the  officers  and  teachers  of  the  Sunday 
school  were  members  of  the  church.  Doubtless  the  roll  of  member- 
ship in  the  entire  pastoral  charge,  Cranston  Street  and  City  Missions, 
was  kept  in  one  book.  The  pastor  reported  that  three  children  and 
one  adult  had  been  baptized  at  Wanskuck.  Thus  the  statistical  report 
for  that  year  shows  that  the  mission  was  starting  bravely,  and  was 
giving  a  good  account  of  itself. 

At  the  session  of  the  Conference  held  in  1889  the  City  Missions 
were  detached  from  Cranston  Street  and  assigned  to  the  pastoral  care- 
of  W.  H.  Stetson.  In  1890  the  Presiding  Elder  reported  growth  in  all 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

the  mission  stations  in  the  city,  and  a  year  later  Wanskuck  was  taken 
out  of  the  circuit  plan  and  made  a  separate  station,  and  then  for  the 
first  time  this  name  appeared  in  the  list  of  appointments,  with  W.  H. 
Stetson  as  preacher  in  charge.  In  1892,  after  one  year  of  existence  as 
an  individual  church,  it  reported  nine  probationers  and  twenty  mem- 
bers, together  with  a  Sunday  school  membership  of  seventy-six.  It 
had  raised  during  the  year  (for  all  purposes)  $371. 

Mr.  Stetson  was  appointed  to  the  charge  for  another  year,  but  he 
shortly  removed  from  the  city,  and  the  charge  was  supplied  for  the 
remainder  of  the  year  by  E.  W.  Webb  and  W.  H.  Butler.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  next  year  Clark  Crawford  was  made  pastor  at  Wans- 
kuck, but  after  a  time  he  was  transferred  to  the  Pacific  coast.  His 
place  was  taken  by  H.  P.  Snow,  a  local  preacher.  During  these  years 
the  church  was  growing  slowly,  but  steadily.  New  evidence  of  this 
fact  appeared  in  the  Presiding  Elder's  report  in  1896,  after  D.  L. 
Brown  had  been  preacher  in  charge  for  two  years,  in  the  form  of  the 
statement,  "Wanskuck  is  preparing  to  build  a  chapel  and  has  spent 
about  $300  in  preliminary  work." 

Thus  far  the  Wanskuck  mission  and  church  had  not  possessed  a 
place  of  worship,  but  had  occupied  successively  several  different  halls. 
But  now  the  work  of  building  was  carried  on  as  planned,  ana  the  new 
chapel,  located  on  Vandewater  street,  was  dedicated  January  31,  1897. 
Thus  far  the  history  of  the  church  is  brief,  and  is  more  briefly  written. 
Some  time  its  story  will  be  longer. 

PASTORS. 

1888.          F.  P.  Parkin  1893.          Clark  Crawford 
1889-91.     W.  H.  Stetson  H.  P.  Snow 

1802.          W.  H.  Stetson  1894-96.     D.  L.  Brown 

E.  W.  WTebb  1897.  Robert  Clark 

W.  H.  Butler 

PRESENT  OFFICIARY. 

Stewards — F.  Whatley,  J.  Craven,  J.  Farr,  J.  Long,  J.  Heaton, 
D.  Wright,  Thomas  Phillips,  Mrs.  Jane  Spencer,  Mrs.  Rachel  What- 
ley, Mrs.  Mary  Craven,  Mrs.  J.  Heaton,  Mrs.  Lucy  Thornton,  Miss 
Ada  J.  Stephen  son. 

Trustees— F.  Whatley,  J.  Craven.  T-  Farr,  R.  Clark,  J.  Heaton, 
D.  Wright,  J.  Hackett,  T.  Phillips,  J.  Long. 

Sunday  School — Superintendent,  John  Farr. 

Epworth  League— President,  John  Farr. 


tTJ 


Lo  GAL  PREACHERS. 


PASTORAL  RECORD 
OF  THE 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  SOUTHERN  CONFER- 
ENCE. 


(Note— "S'te"     indicates     a     superannuate;  "s'y"    a    supernumerary    relation.) 

ACKLEY,  JOSEPH  B.  1883,  West  Rocky  Hill;  84,  Somers;  85,  Somers  and  Square 
Pond;  86-88,  Tolland,  Lee  Church  and  Wesley  Chapel;  89,  Marshfleld;  90-92, 
Hockanum;  93,  s'y;  94-96,  Tolland,  Lee  Church  and  Wesley  Chapel;  97,  Gale's 
Ferry. 

ADAMS,   DWIGHT  W.    1895,  Wapping  and  Vernon;  96,   97,   Vernon. 

ADAMS,  JOHN  Q.  1866-68,  Pall  River,  North  Ch.;  69,  70,  North  Rehoboth;  71-73,  So. 
Scituate;  74,  75,  Hebron ville;  76,  77,  Mystic;  78-80,  North  Grosvenordale;  81,  East 
and  South  Harwich;  82.  83,  Sandwich;  84,  85,  Hebronville  and  Dodg-eville;  86-88, 
Truro  and  South  Truro;  89,  90,  Bourne,  91,  92,  Voluntown  and  Griswold;  93,  94, 
East  Woodstock  and  West  Thompson;  95,  96,  Gale's  Ferry;  97,  Tolland,  Lee  Ch. 
and  Wesley  Chapel. 

ALGER,  NATHAN  C.  1877,  N.  H.  Conf.,  Derry;  78,  Merrimackport;  79,  80,  Cole- 
brook;  81,  82,  Lake  Village;  83,  84.  Antrim;  85,  86,  Warren;  87,  Marlboro;  88,  N.  E. 
So.  Conf.,  Marshfleld;  89,  90.  Chatham;  91,  92,  Fairhaven;  93-95,  Bourne;  96,  Cot- 
tage City;  97,  Brockton,  Pearl-st. 

ALLEN,  JOHN  H.  1873-75,  North  Dennis;  76-78.  Marshfleld;  79-81,  Plymouth;  82,  83, 
Centenary  Ch.,  Provincetown;  84.  s'y;  85,  86.  Nantasket;  87-90,  Burnside;  91-93, 
Norwish,  East  Main  st. ;  94,  95,  Phenix;  96,  97,  Newport,  First  Ch. 

ALLEN,  WILLIAM  H.  1884,  85.  Portsmouth;  86,  Providence,  Cranston-st. ;  87,  89, 
Phenix;  90,  91,  New  Bedford,  Fourth-st.;  92-94,  Newport,  Middletown  Ch. ;  95,  96, 
Woonsocket;  97,  South  Braintree  and  Holbrook. 

ANDERSON,  ALEXANDER.  1864,  65,  North  West  Bridgewater;  66-68,  Attleboro;  69, 
70,  Taunton,  Central  Ch. ;  72,  73,  Norwich,  East  Main-st. ;  74-76,  Providence, 
Asbury  Ch. ;  77-79,  St.  Paul's  and  East  Providence;  80-82,  Woonsocket;  83-85. 
Haven  Ch.,  East  Providence;  86,  87,  Pawtucket,  Thomas  Ch. ;  88,  Hope  and 
Washington;  89-91,  Hill's  Grove;  92-94,  Berkeley;  95-97,  Fall  River,  North  Ch. 

ANDERSON,  GEORGE  W.  1867,  Methodist  Free  Ch.,  Astoria,  L.  I.;  69,  Third 
ave.,  Brooklyn;  70,  teacher;  71,  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  72-74,  Prov.  Conf.,  East  Bridge- 
water;  75,  76,  Danielsonville;  77-79,  New  London;  80-82,  Providence,  Trinity;  83. 
Westerly;  84,  85,  Pawtucket,  First  Ch. ;  86-97,  s'te. 

ANTHONY,  EDWARD  M.  1863.  Duxbury;  64,  65,  South  Truro;  66,  Osterville;  67- 
69,  East  Glastonbury;  70,  71,  Portland;  72-74,  Moosup;  75,  Wapping;  76,  77,  North 
Grosvenordale;  78,  79,  Moodus;  80,  81,  East  Thompson;  82,  83,  Staff ordville  and 
Willington;  84-97,  s'y. 

AYRES,  EDWARD  J.  1871,  Wilmington  Conf.,  Newton  Ct.,  Md. ;  72.  Annamessex 
Ct.;  73,  74,  Princess  Anne  Ct. ;  75,  76,  Prov.  Conf.,  Wareham;  77,  Monument; 
78,  79,  Quarryville  and  Andover;  80-82.  Moosup;  83  Attawaugan;  84,  85.  Hock- 
anum; 86-88,  East  Hampton  and  Marlboro;  89-92,  North  Grovenordale;  93-95,  Un- 
casville;  96,  97,  Pascoag. 

BABCOCK,  EDWIN  G.  1869-71,  Westport  Point;  72,  Cochesett;  73,  74,  Washington; 
75.  Millville;  76,  77,  Fall  River,  North  Ch.;  78,  Hanover;  79.  80.  Mansfleld,  First 
Ch. ;  81-83,  East  Weymouth,  Porter  Ch. ;  84,  85,  s'y;  86,  87,  Fall  River,  North 
Ch.;  88,  East  Thompson;  89,  90,  Windsorville;  91,  92,  Hingham;  93,  94,  Rockland 
Hatherly  Ch.;  95,  96,  Drownville;  97,  Berkeley. 

BAKER,  FREDERICK  C.  1882,  83,  Greenville;  84,  85,  Norwich  Town;  86,  87,  Wash- 
ington and  Hope;  88,  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville;  89,  90,  North  Easton;  91,  92, 
Warehouse  Point;  93,  94,  Providence,  Hope-st. ;  95-97,  Moosup. 

BANNING,  CARLOS.  1851,  Somerset;  52,53,  Little  Compton;  54,  55,  North  Dighton: 
56.  Plymouth:  57,  58,  East  Bridgewater;  59,  60,  Phenix;  61,  62,  Norwich,  Central 
Ch.;  63,  64,  West  Killingly;  65,  Middletown;  66-68,  s'y;  89-97,  s'te. 

BASS,  EDWARD  C.  1861,  Vermont  Conf.,  Pittsfleld;  62,  63,  Bellows  Falls;  64,  65, 
Newbury;  66-68,  Springfield;  69,  St.  Johnsbury;  70,  71,  Waterbury;  72-74,  Brattle- 
boro;  75,  New  Hampshire  Conf.,  Plymouth;  76-78,  Lebanon;  79,  80,  Concord;  81- 
83,  Haverhill-st.,  Lawrence;  84,  85,  Rochester;  86-88,  Maine  Conf.,  Gardiner; 
89-91,  New  England  Southern  Conf.,  Taunton,  First  Ch. ;  92-95,  Newport,  First 
Ch.;  96,  97,  Presiding  Elder,  Providence  District. 

BARTHOLOMEW,  JAMES  I.  1881,  W.  Wisconsin  Conf.,  New  Lisbon;  82,  Black 
Hills  Mission,  Sturgis  City;  83-85,  Rapid  City;  86-88,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Whitman; 
89-92,  New  Bedford,  Allen-st.;  93,  located;  94-97,  Stafford  Springs. 

BATES,  GEORGE  H.  1869-71,  North  Easton  Village;  72-74,  Rockland;  75,  76,  North 
Dighton;  77-79,  Provincetown,  Centenary  Ch. ;  80,  81,  Somerset;  82-84,  North 
Dighton;  85-87,  Plymouth;  88-90.  Norwich,  E.  Main-st.;  91-94,  Rockville  and  Ver- 
non; 95-97,  Presiding  Elder,  Norwich  District. 


242 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


BEALE,  SAMUEL,  M.  1870-72,  North  Bridgewater,  West  Ch. ;  73,  74,  Fall  River, 
Quarry-st. ;  75,  Somerset;  76-78,  Edgartown;  79,  80,  West  Dennis;  81,  82,  Well- 
fleet;  83,  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville;  84-86,  Sandwich;  87,  Westerly;  88,  89,  Nan- 
tucket;  90,  Vineyard  Haven;  91.  92,  Oentreville;  93,  Providence,  Cranston-st.;  94- 
96,  Pawtucket,  Thomson  Ch. ;  97,  Stoughton. 
BELL,,  JOHN  S.  18991,  Taunton,  Tremont-st.;  92,  Drownville  and  Riverside;  93-95, 

Colchester;  96,  97,   Chilmark. 

BENTON,  JOSIAH  T.  1853,  54,  Tolland;  55,  56,  Lyme  and  East  Lyme;  57,  Lebanon; 
58,  59,  New  Bedford,  Fourth-st. ;  60,  61,  Taunton,  First  Ch.;  62,  Provincetown, 
Centre  Ch. ;  63-65,  Stafford  Springs;  66,  s'y;  67,  East  Greenwich;  68,  Providence, 
Eddy-st. ;  69-71,  Centreville;  72,  73,  Thompsonville;  74,  75,  Uncasville;  76-78,  Nian- 
tic;  79-97,  s'te. 

BENTON,    STEPHEN    O.    1869-71,    Dighton;  72,  73,  Vernon;  74,  Norwich,  East  Main- 
st. ;  75-77,  East  Greenwich;  78,   Danielsonville;    79-81,    Burnside;    82-84,    New    Lon- 
don;  85-87,    New   Bedford,    County-st. ;  88,     89,     Providence,     Chestnut-st. ;     90-95, 
Presiding  Elder,  Providence  District;  96,  97,  Fall  River,  First  Ch. 
BBTTS,   JACOB.    1881-83,    Mashapaug;   84-86,    Wapping;   87-91,    Moodus  and  Haddam 

Neck;   92-96,    E.    Glastonbury;   97,    Putnam. 

BIRAM,  JAMES.  1877,  E.  Maine  Conference,  Pembroke;  ,78  79,  Machias;  80,  Har- 
rington; 81-83,  Centre  and  South  Orrington;  84,  Hartland  and  St.  Albans:  85-87, 
Woolwich;  88,  89,  East  Boothbay;  90,  E.  Vassalboro  and  China;  91,  92,  N.  E.  So. 
Conf.,  Mapleville  and  Glendale;  93,  94,  Warehouse  Point;  95,  s'y;  96,  No.  Reho- 
both  and  Chartley;  97,  Chartley  and  No.  Rehoboth. 

BLAKE,    JOHN   E.    1894,   95,   Falmouth;  96,  97,  Sandwich  and  Forestdale. 
BLAKESLEE,   FRANCIS   D.    1871,   72,   Genesee    Conf.,    Groveland,    N.    Y. ;    73-84,    N. 
E.  So.   Conf.,   Principal  Conf.   Seminary;  85,   s'y;  86,   Newport,   Thames-st. ;   87-97, 
Principal   East  Greenwich  Academy. 

BOSWORTH,  BENJAMIN  K.  1856,  Marshfleld;  57,  58,  Provincetown;  59,  60,  South 
Harwich;  61,  62,  Eastham;  63,  64,  West  Sandwich;  65,  Somerset;  66,  67,  North  Re- 
hoboth; 68,  Mapleville;  69,  Acushnet;  70,  s'te;  71,72,  Marshfield;  73,  Nantucket; 
74,  Chilmark;  75-81,  s'te;  82,  s'y;  83,  South  and  North  Harwich;  84-86,  North 
Truro;  87,  88,  s'y;  89-91,  Fall  River,  Quarry-st.;  92,  93,  Cataumet  and  Pocasset; 
94,  East  Falmouth;  95,  Chilmark;  96,  97,  s'te. 
BRALEY,  MARTIN  T.  1891,  South  Coventry;  92,  East  Hampton  and  Marlboro; 

93,  94,  Mapleville  and  Glendale;  95-97,  Jewett  City  and  Hopeville. 

BRAY,  WILLIAM  McKENDREE.  1856,  East  Maine  Conf.,  Rockport;  57,  Unity; 
58,  East  Corinth;  59,  60,  Orono;  61,  62,  Augusta;  63,  64,  Skowhegan;  65,  Portland 
Pine-st. ;  66,  Prov.  Conf.,  Little  Compton;  67,  68,  Centreville;  69,  Stafford  Springs; 
70,  71,  Woonso-cket;  72,  73,  Provincetown,  Centenaray;  74,  75,  Mystic;  76-86,  Agt. 
Seminary;  87-93,  s'y;  94-97,  s'te. 

BRIDGFORD,  JOHN  S.  1876,  Troy  Conference,  Albany;  77,  78,  E.  Greenbush;  79- 
81,  Cobleshill;  82-84,  Saranac;  85-87,  Argyle;  88,  89,  Whitehall;  90;  Winooski;  91,  92, 
N.  E.  So.  Conference,  Burnside  and  East  Hartford;  93,  94,  Danielsonville;  95-97, 
Providence,  Hope-st. 

BRIGHTMAN,  GEORGE  E.  1881-83,  South  Braintree;  84,  Holbrook  and  West  Ab- 
ington;  85,  Holbrook;  86,  87,  Nantucket;  88,  89,  North  Dighton;  90-92,  Plymouth; 
93-95,  Attleboro;  96,  Providence,  Broadway;  97,  Newport,  Thames-st. 
BROOKS,  FRANK  L.  1882,  East  Maine  Conf.,  Round  Pond  and  Bremen;  83,  Pem- 
broke; 84,  Orland  and  East  Bucksport;  85-86,  Harrington;  87,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  W. 
Duxbury;  89,  E.  Weymouth,  Porter  Ch.;  90,  91,  Riverside  and  Drownville;  92-94, 
Fall  River,  Quarry-st.;  95-96,  Newport,  Middletown  Ch.;  97,  Wellfleet. 
BROWN,  DENISON  L.  1865-67,  East  Thompson;  68,  69,  Staff ordville;  70-71,  East 
Glastonbury;  72,  Greenville;  73,  74,  Wapping;  75,  76,  Dighton;  77-79,  Warehouse 
Point;  80,  81,  Attawaugan;  82,  Mystic;  83,  84,  North  Grosvenordale;  85,  Jewett 
City;  86,  Hockanum;  87-89,  Nantasket;  90,  Arnold's  Mills;  91,  Hope;  92,  93,  Wick- 
ford;  94-97,  s'te. 

BROWN,   HENRY  W.    1884.  Wisconsin  Conf.,     Horicon;   85,     Campbellsport;     86-89, 
Byron;  90,  Waterloo;  91,  South  Dakota  Conf.,  Lodi;  92-94,  Sioux  Falls;  95,  96,  N.  E. 
So  Conf.,  Stoughton;  97,   Warren. 
BUCK,  WALTER  P.    1887,  Jewett  City  and     Hopeville;     88-91,     Mystic    Bridge    and 

Noank;  92-94,  Providence,  Chestnut-st.;  95-97,  Provincetown,  Centre  Ch. 
BUCKEY,    JOHN   H.    1891,   92,   Holbrook;  93-97,  Centreville. 

BURN,  RICHARD.  1875,  Truro;  76,  77,  East  Falmouth;  78,  79,  Nantucket;  80-82, 
Berkeley;  83-85,  Bourne;  86-88,  East  Bridgewater;  89-91,  Warehouse  Point;  91-95, 
Arnold's  Mills;  96,  Marion;  97,  s'te. 

BUTLER,  GEORGE  H.  1874,  75,  South  Truro;  76,  Long  Plain;  77,  Osterville  and 
Centreville;  78,79,  Vineyard  Haven;  80,  81,  West  Sandwich;  82-84,  East  Glaston- 
bury; 85,  Mystic  Bridge;  86,  87,  Putnam;  88,  89,  Manchester;  90,  91,  Moosup;  92- 
94,  Portsmouth;  95-97,  Hill's  Grove. 

BUTLER,  WILLIAM  H.    1894,  E.  Weymouth,  Porter  Ch.;  95-97,  Hull. 
CADY,  HOPKINS  B.    1870,  Pocasset;  71,  72,   West   Sandwich;   73,  74,    Fairhaven;   75- 
77,  Pascoag;  78-80,  Pawtucket,  First  Ch.;    81-83,    Asbury    Ch.,    Providence;    84-86, 
Fourth-st.,  New  Bedford;  87,  88,  Taunton,   First  Ch. ;   89-91,  Taunton,  Grace  Ch.; 
92-94,  Newport,  Thames-st.;  95,  96,  Providence,  Chestnut-st.;  97,  Woonsocket. 
CADY,  WILLIAM  O.    1847,  Sterling;  48,  Voluntown   and  Griswold;   49,   50.  Westerly; 
51,  52,  Colchester;  53,  54.  Greenville;  55,  56.  Rockville;  57.  58,  Scotland;  59,  60,  Fish- 
erville;  61.  62,  Pheraix;  63-65,  Warehouse  Point;   66,    67,    Portland;    68,    Portsmouth; 
69,  s'te;  70-97,  s'y. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  243 

CHASE,  SETH  B.  1843,  Maine  Conf.,  Rumford;  44,  Peru;  49,  Lisbon;  50,  Harrison; 
51,  52,  Rumford;  53,  54,  Bethel;  55,  Norway;  56,  57,  Phillips;  58,  Strong;  59,  60, 
Prov.  Conf.,  Harwich;  61,  South  Truro:  62,  Yarmouthport;  63-65,  Barnstable;  66, 
s'y;  67,  68,  Cotuitport;  69,  70,  Chilmark;  71,  72,  Windsorville;  73,  74,  Mashapaug 
and  "West  Woodstock;  75,  76,  East  Woodstock;  77,  West  Woodstock;  78,  79,  West 
Thompson;  80-97,  s'te. 

CHURCH,  ANDREW  J.  1850,  Carthage,  N.  Y. ;  52,  53,  Warner.  N.  H.;  54,  Cape 
Vincent,  N.  Y. ;  55,  56,  Maine  Conf.,  Portland,  Congress-st. ;  57,  58,  Bath,  Beacon- 
st. ;  59,  Readfleld;  60,  61,  Augusta,  chaplain  in  army;  62.  N.  H.  Conf.,  Great  Falls, 
High-st. ;  63,  64,  Lawrence,  Garden-st. ;  65,  Sandwich;  66,  P.  E.  Claremont  Dist. ; 

67  N.  H.   State  Temperance  Agt.,  supplied  Grace  Ch.,  Boston  and  Edgartown; 

68  69,   Prov.   Conf.,    Edgartown;   70-72,  Wellfleet;   73-75,   Providence,    Hope-st. ;   76- 
78,  Stafford  Springs;  79,  80,  Willimantic;  81,  Chatham;  82,  North  Ch.,  Fall  River; 
83,  East  Blackstone;  84-97,  s'y. 

CLARK,  EDGAR  F.  1862,  63,  Norwich,  East  Main-st. ;  64-66,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.; 
67-69,  Willimantic;  70-72,  Providence,  Mathewson-st. ;  73,  s'y;  74-76,  Provlncetown 
Centre;  77-79,  Warren;  80,  located  at  his  own  request;  81,  82,  readmitted,  New  Bed- 
ford Pleasant-st. ;  83-85,  Newport,  Thames-st. ;  86,  87.  Providence,  Broadway;  88, 
s'y;  89-91,  Stafford  Springs;  92-96,  Taunton,  Grace  Ch. ;  97,  Plymouth. 

CLARK,  ROBERT.  1859,  Plymouth;  60,  61,  Hingham;  62,  South  Scituate;  63,  64, 
East  Glastonbury;  65,  66,  Burnside;  67,68,  Putnam;  69,  70,  Norwich,  North;  71-73, 
Uncasville;  74,  Hazardville;  75,  76,  Pawtucket,  Thomson  Ch.;  77,  78,  Westerly; 
79  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville;  80,  81,  Danielsonville;  82,  83,  Niantic;  84,  85,  West 
Sandwich;  86-88,  Fall  River,  Bray  ton  Ch. ;  8  9,90,  Sandwich  and  Forestdale;  91-93, 
Cochesett;  94,  Dighton;  95,  Berkeley;  96,  Washington;  97,  Providence,  Wanskuck. 

CODDING,  LEWIS  B.  1883,  84,  Orleans;  85,  86,  Osterville  and  Centreville;  87,  88, 
North  Easton;  89,  Providence,  Harris-ave.;  90,  91,  Maine  Conf.,  Waterville;  92, 
N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Pascoag;  93,  94,  Thorn psonville;  95-97,  Mystic  and  Noank. 

COLEMAN,  FREDERICK  W.  1894,  Providence,  Mt.  Pleasant;  95,  96,  Bolbrook;  97, 
East  Hampton. 

CONANT,  HENRY  W.  1851,  52,  Bolton;  53,  Scotland;  54,  55,  Somers;  56,  57,  Ware- 
house Point;  58,  59,  East  Haddam;  60,61,  Putnam;  62,  63,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.; 
64,  65,  Norwich,  Main-st.;  66,  Uncasville;  67,  68,  Millville;  69-87,  Agt.  R.  I.  Tem- 
perance Union  88-90,  s'y. 

COOK,  NATHANIEL  B.  1889-91,  E.  Maine  Conf.,  Hampden;  92,  Wiscasset;  93,  N. 
E.  So.  Conf.,  South  Harwich  and  Bethel;  94,  South  and  East  Harwich;  95,  North 
Rehoboth  and  Chartley;  96,  Arnold's  Mills;  97,  East  Bridgewater. 

COOPER,  JOSEPH.  1889,  90,  Primitive  Methodist  Conf.  of  England,  Buckingham; 
91-93,  Forth  Wales;  94,  student;  95-97,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Old  Mystic. 

COOPER,  J.  FRANCIS.  1883,  4,  Bryantville  and  Silver  Lake;  85-87,  Cottage  City; 
88-91,  Newport,  Middletown  Ch. ;  92-94,  Providence,  Broadway;  95-97,  New  Bed- 
ford, County-st. 

COULTAS,  ANDREW  J.,  Jr.  1880,  81,  Fall  River,  North  Ch.;  82-84,  Mystic  Bridge; 
85-87,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.;  88-91,  New  London;  92-96,  Fall  River,  St.  Paul's;  97, 
Providence,  Chestnut-st. 

CRITCHLOW,  HAROLD  H.    1895,  Myricks;  96,  97,  Acushnet. 

CUMMINGS,  SILAS  S.  1839,  Maine  Conf.,  Montville;  40,  Searsmont;  41,  Lincoln; 
42,  Friendship;  43,  Frankford;  44,  Kittery;  45,  46,  Kennebunk;  47,  North  Gorham 
and  Standish;  48,  Cape  Elizabeth;  49,  Newfleld;  50,  51.  West  Cumberland;  52, 
Scarboro;  53,  Berwick;  54,  N.  H.  Conf.,  Bristol;  55,  Kingston;  56,  Rindge;  57, 
Prov.  Conf.,  Portsmouth;  58,  Westport  Point;  59,  Mansfield;  60,  61,  Burrillville; 
62,  Plainfield;  63,  chaplain  in  army;  64,  65,  West  Thompson;  66,  67,  South  Coven- 
try; 68,  Pascoag;  69-97,  Agt.  New  England  Home  for  Little  Wanderers. 

DAVIS,  CHARLES  S.  1880,  81,  South  Glastonbury;  82,  83,  Vernon  Depot;  84,  85,  Nor- 
wich, Greenville;  86,  87,  Acushnet;  88-90,  Wellfleet;  91,  92,  Bourne;  93,  94,  New 
Bedford,  Allen-st.,  and  So.  Dartmouth;  95,  96,  Nev  Bedford,  Allen-st. ;  97,  East 
Providence. 

DAVIS,  WILLIAM  F.  1882,  Orleans;  83-85,  Wareham;  86-88,  Fair  haven;  89-91,  Bris- 
tol; 92-95,  Middleboro;  96,  Uncasville";  97,  Providence,  Tabernacle. 

DE- LA  MATER,  CLAYTON  E.  1886,  Upper  Iowa  Conf.,  Laporte  City;  87,  South 
India  Conf.,  Nagpore;  88,  Baroda;  89-91,  Bombay;  92-94.  Bombay  Conf.,  s'y;  (sup- 
plied, 92,  Hanover;  93,  94,  Myricks);  95.  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Cotuit;  96,  97,  s'y. 

DOCKING,  JAMES  T.  1887,  88,  Des  Moines  Conf.,  Des  Moines,  Asbury  Ch.;  89, 
Boone;  90,  post-graduate  student;  91,  92,  Dunlap;  93,  94,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Westerly; 
95,  96,  Providence,  Tabernacle  Ch. ;  97,  West  Dennis. 

DODGE,  JAMES  O.  1870,  Willington;  71-73,  Gurleyville;  74,  East  Hartford;  75  Atta- 
waugan;  76,  77,  Voluntown  and  Griswold;  78,  Tolland;  79,  80,  South  Coventry 
and  Eagleville;  81-91,  s'y;  92,  Colchester  and  Hebron;  93,  Norwich  Town  and 
North  Main-st.;  94,  Norwich  Town;  95-97,  s'y. 

DUNHAM,  LEWIS  E.  1854,  Truro;  55,  South  Scituate;  56,  West  Harwich:  57  Nan- 
tucket,  Fair-st. ;  58,  59,  Canterbury;  60,  Hopeville;  61,  62,  South  Coventry;  63,  Tol- 
land; 64,  65,  Staff ordville;  66,  67,  East  Lyme  and  Lyme;  68,  69,  North  Grosvenor- 
dale;  70,  71.  Plainfield;  72-97,  s'y. 

DUXBURY,  JOHN  E.  1892,  Truro;  93-95,  Marion;  96,  Cataumet  and  Pocasset;  97, 
Vineyard  iiaven. 

DYSON,  ROBERT  D.  1876,  Eastford;  77,  78,  Millville;  79,  Attawaugan;  80,  Volun- 
town; 81,  Voluntown  and  Griswold;  82,  Moodus;  83,  84,  Moosup;  85-87  East  Glas- 
tonbury; 88,  89,  Uncasville;  90-93,  Fall  River,  Summerfield  Ch.;  94-96,  Niantic;  97, 
Thompson  ville. 


244 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


EDSON,  EDWARD.  1861,  62.  Duxbury;  63,  64,  Osterville;  65,  66,  North  Eastern  Vil- 
lage ;  67-69,  Holmes  Hole;  70-72,  Chatham;  73,  74,  West  Dennis;  75-77,  Bristol;  78- 
80,  Wellfleet;  81-83,  Taunton,  Central  Ch.  ;  84-85,  Pascoag;  86-88,  P.  E.,  Norwich 
Dist.;  89-97,  s'te. 

EL  A,  WALTER.  1861,  62,  East  Thompson;  63,  64,  Quarry  ville;  65,  Norwich,  North; 
66,  67,  Cochesett;  68,  Harwichport;  69,  Wellfleet;  70,  71,  Little  Compton;  72,  73, 
East  Weymouth;  74-76,  South  Manchester;  77,  78,  Portland;  79,  80,  Phenix- 
81-83,  Hazardville;  84-86,  Westerly;  87,  88,  Attleboro;  89-94,  Presiding  Elder,  New 
Bedford  Dist.  ;  95-97,  Danielson. 

ELMER,  GEORGE  W.  1880-86,  Japan  Mission,  Am.  Bible  Soc.,  Yokohama;  86,  Kan- 
agawa;  87,  Lida  and  Adzusa;  88,  Yonezawa;  89,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Staffordville  and 
Willingto'n;  90,  Cottage  City;  91,  92,  Chatham;  93,  94,  Sandwich;  95,  96,  Well- 
fleet;  97,  Moodus  and  Haddam  Neck. 

ELDRIDGE,  ERNEST  W.,  1889,  90,  N.  H.  Conf.,  Stark;  91,  92,  Salem,  First  Ch.;  93, 
student;  94,  95,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  South  Yarmouth;  96,  97,  South  Somerset. 

ELLIS,  SHERMAN  E.,  1892,  Rockland,  Central  Ch.;  93-95,  South  Braintree;  96,  97. 
Fairhaven. 

EVERETT,  THOMAS  J.      1874,  Carlisle,  la.;   75,   Des   Moines   Conf.,    Council  Bluffs; 


District. 

EWER,  CHARLES  H.  1869,  Gilmanton,  N.  H.;  70,  71,  Prov.  Conf.,  Orleans;  72,  73, 
Osterville;  74-76,  Berkeley;  77,78,  Vernon  Depot;  79-81,  Niantic;  82-84,  Stoughton; 
So,  Providence,  St.  Paul's;  86,  Phenix;  87,  88,  Warren:  89-91,  Little  Compton;  92- 
95,  No.  Dighton;  96,  97,  Wickford. 

FARLEY,  ORVILLE  A.  1871,  72,  Vermont  Conf.,  Bethel,  Gilead;  73,  West  Topsham; 
74,  75,  Middlesex;  76,  West  Topsham;  77,  78,  Pittsfleld;  79,  80,  Marshfleld;  81, 
Derry;  82,  83,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Westport  Point;  84,  85,  Attawaugan;  86,  South 
Coventry;  87,  88,  Sandwich;  89,  Orleans  and  E.  Harwich;  90,  91,  So.  Somerset;  92- 
94,  Whitman;  95,  Acushnet;  96,  Osterville  and  Centrevile;  97,  Hebronville. 
FIELD,  AMBRIE.  1892,  Jewett  City;  93-95,  East  Braintree;  96,  97,  East  Greenwich. 
FITCH  WILLIAM  S.  1872,  North  Ohio  Conf.,  Granger;  73-75,  Richfield;  76,  77, 
Penfield;  78,  79,  Canal  Dover;  80,  Doylestown;  81-85,  Louisiana  Conf.,  President 
Baldwin  Seminary;  86,  87,  St.  John's  River  Conf.,  President  Conference  College; 
88  St.  Augustine,  Grace  Ch.  ;  89,  90,  Jacksonville,  Trinity  Ch.  ;  91,  92,  N.  E.  So. 
Conf  '  Wellfleet;  93,  94,  missionary  in  New  Mexico;  95,  Fairhaven;  96,  Rockland, 
Central  and  Hatherly  Chs.;  97,  s'y. 

FLOCKEN,  LOUIS  M.  1885,  So.  111.  Conf.,  Shawneetown;  86-88,  student  in  Boston 
University;  89-91,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Whitman;  92-95,  So.  Somerset;  96,  97,  Fall  River, 
Summerfleld  Ch. 

FOLLANSBEE,  FRANK  J.  1886,  87,  Wickford;  88-90,  Mapleville  and  Glendale; 
Aug.  90,  Black  Hills  Mission  Conf.,  Sturgis;  91,  Spearfish;  92,  93,  N.  E.  So. 
Conf.,  Hull;  94,  Providence,  Cranston-st.  ;  95,  Providence,  Cranston-st.  and  Mt. 
Pleasant;  96,  97,  Providence,  Cranston-st. 

FOSTER,  WILLIAM  S.  1887,  Montville  and  Salem;  88,  89,  Colchester;  90,  Lyme; 
91,  92,  Old  Mystic;  93,  94,  East  Hampton  and  Marlboro;  95,  96,  East  Hampton;  97, 
Foxboro. 

FOX,  SAMUEL.  1843,  So.  Somerset;  44,  Dennis  and  Hyannis;  45,  46,  Quincy;  47, 
Eastham;  48,  Provincetown;  49,  50,  Wellfleet;  51,  New  London;  52,  53,  East  Gas- 
tonbury;  54,  55,  Thompsonville;  56,  57,  Burrillville;  58,  59,  North  Rehoboth;  60,  61, 
s'te;  62,  Acushnet;  63-68,  Chaplain  New  Bedford  Port  Society;  69,  70,  Mansfield 
and  East  Mansfield;  71-73,  West  Thompson;  74,  s'y;  75-77,  East  Thompson;  78-80, 
Mapleville;  81-83,  Pocasset;  84-87,  s'te;  88,  89,  s'y,  Eastham;  90-97,  s'te. 
GAMMONS,  JOHN  G.  1868,  South  Middleboro;  69,  70,  Fall  River,  North  Ch.;  71-73, 
Myrickville;  74-76,  Portsmouth;  77,  78,  Wareham;  79-81,  Westport  Point;  82,  Gur- 
leyville;  83-85,  Fall  River,  North  Ch.  ;  86-88,  Bourne  and  Pocasset;  89-93,  Fall 
River,  Brayton  Ch.  ;  94-96,  West  Dennis;  97,  Arnold's  Mills. 
GEISLER,  JOHN  N.  1889,  E.  Bridgewater  and  Bridgewater;  90,  91,  E.  Bridge- 

water;  92,  Nantucket;  93,  94,  Holbrook;  95-97,  Portsmouth. 

GOODIER,  ERASTUS  W.  1877-79,  Long  Plain;  80-82,  Mansfield,  Emmanuel  Ch.; 
83-85,  Little  Compton;  86-88,  Holbrook;  89-92,  Providence,  Cranston-st.;  93-97, 
Portland. 

GRANT,  GEORGE  A.  1881-3,  Osterville  and  Centreville;  84-86,  West  Dennis;  87-89, 
Vineyard  Haven;  90,  Centreville;  91-93,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.  ;  94,  95,  Province- 
town,  Centenary  Ch.  ;  96,  97,  Middleboro. 

GROSE,  RICHARD  C.    1889,  90,  Minnesota  Conf.,  Alexandria;  91,  92,  Farmington;  93, 

94,  Fairbault;  95,  Redwood  Falls;  Aug.,  96,  97,  N.  E.  Southern  Conf.,  Bridgewater. 

GURNEY,   EDWARD  B.    1888,   89,   Osterville  and  Marston's  Mills;  90,  92,  Acushnet; 

93,   North  Rehoboth  and  Chartley;  94,  95,    Cataumet  and   Pocasset;    96,   Myricks 

and  Berkley;  97,  Myricks. 

HALL,  ALMON  E.    1872,  73,  Dighton;  74,  Providence,  St.  Paul's;  75-77,  West  Dennis; 

78-97,  s'te. 

HAML.EN,  GEORGE  M.  1858,  59,  New  Bedford,  Mt.  Pleasant;  60,  Portsmouth;  61, 
62,  Millville;  63,  64,  Stoughton;  65,  66,  Providence,  Power-st.;  67,  Provincetown, 
Centenary  Ch.  ;  68,  s'y,  Newport,  Marlboro-st.  Ch.;  69,  s'y;  70-76,  Taunton,  City 
Missionary;  77,  Chaplain  Bristol  Co.  Jail;  78,  79,  Vineyard  Grove;  80,  Acushnet; 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  245 

81,  82,  Washington  and  Greene;  84,  85,  Central  Falls;  86,  Pascoag;  87,  88,  Pall 
River,  Quarry-st. ;  89,  Agent  Mallalieu  Seminary;  90-97,  President  Mallalieu  Sem- 
inary, Kinsey,  Ala. 

HAMMOND.  EVERETT  S.    1894,  95,   Cochesett;  96,  97,  Hope. 

HARRIS,  CHARLES  E.  1857,  58,  N.  Y.  East  Conf.,  New  York,  John-st.;  59,  Brook- 
lyn, Carleton-ave. ;  60,  61,  New  York  Conf.,  New  York,  Green-st. ;  62,  Kingston, 
First  Ch.;  63,  New  York,  St.  John's;  64,  65,  Tarrytown,  First  Ch. ;  66-68,  N.  Y. 
East  Conf.,  New  York,  Alanson  Ch. ;  69-71,  Brooklyn,  Washington-st. ;  72,  Brook- 
lyn, Tabernacle;  73,  74,  New  York,  Alanson  Ch.;  75,  76,  New  York,  Allen-st. ;  77, 
78,  Brooklyn,  Greene-ave. ;  79,  80,  Bridgeport ;  81-83,  New  Haven,  St.  John-st. ;  84, 

85,  Brooklyn,  First  Ch.;  87,  88,   So.  Norwalk;  89,  Brooklyn,  Sixth-ave. ;  90,  91,  N.  E. 
So.  Conf.,  Providence,  Chestnut-st. ;  92,93,   Stafford  Springs;  94,  95,  New  Bedford, 
Pleasant-st. ;  96,  97,  Provincetown,  Centenary   Ch. 

HARTWIG,  KONRAD  R.  1873,  74,  Sweden  Conf.,  Oscarshamn;  75,  Christavopel;  76, 
Nora;  77,  Odensvi;  78,  located;  87,  88,  readmitted,  Wilmington  Conf.,  Wilmington, 
Swedish;  89-91,  Philadelphia,  Swedish;  92,  93,  New  England  Conf..  Rockport, 
Swedish;  94.  Worcester,  First  Swedish;  95,  Gardner,  Swedish;  96,  97,  N.  E.  South- 
ern Conf.,  Newport,  Swedish. 

HASTINGS.  GEORGE  H.  1873,  Vt.  Conf.,  Hartland:  74,  So.  Royalton;  75.  76,  Han- 
cock and  Granville;  77,  78,  Marshfield:  79-81,  student  in  Boston  School  of  The- 
ology; 82,  Detroit  Conf.,  Brighton;  83-85,  Ishpeming;  86,  Lake  Linden;  87,  N.  W. 
Iowa  Conf.,  Fonda;  88,  Sac  City;  89,  90,  s'y;  91,  92,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Danielson- 
ville;  93-97,  North  Grosvenordale. 

HATCH,  CHARLES  T.   1880,  Orleans;  81,  82,  Myrickville;  83-85,  Truro  and  So.  Truro; 

86,  Portsmouth;  87,   88,  Brockton,  West  Church;   89-91,    Chilmark  and  Cuttyhunk; 
92,  93,   Dighton;  94,   95,   Edgartown;   96,  97,   Wareham  and   East  Wareham. 

HAWKINS,  J.  ELLIS.  1862,  63,  Haddam  Neck;  64-66.  Greenville;  67,  68,  North  Man- 
chester; 69-71,  New  Bedford,  Pleasant-st.;  72-74,  Providence,  Broadway;  75-77, 
Woonsocket;  78-80.  Taunton,  Central  Ch. ;  81,  82,  Brockton,  Central  Ch. ;  83,  84, 
Stafford  Springs;  85,  87,  New  London;  88-90,  Westerly;  91-95,  E.  Greenwich;  96,  97, 
Wakefleld. 

HEATH,  WILLIAM  B.  1871-73.  Hebronville;  74,  South  Hanson;  75-77,  Fall  River, 
Ferry-st.;  78-80,  Mystic;  81-83,  Fall  River,  Bray  ton  Ch.;  84-86,  Diamond  Hill;  87- 
90,  South  Braintree  and  East  Braintree;  91-95,  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville;  96, 
97.  Cochesett. 

HINCKLEY,  CHARLES  N.  1856,  California  Conf.,  Jackson  and  Mokelumne  Hill 
Ct. ;  57,  58,  Mariposa  Ct. :  59,  60,  Eureka  Ct. ;  61.  62,  Crescent  City;  63,  located;  64- 
66,  Prov.  Conf.,  Pembroke;  67-69,  Osterville;  70,  71,  Monument;  72-74,  Stoughton; 
75,  76,  Nantucket;  77,  78,  Eastham:  79,  Truro  and  South  Truro;  80-82,  Monument; 
83-85,  Hope  and  Washington;  86,  87,  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville;  88-90,  Mansfield, 
Emmanuel  Ch. ;  91-93,  No.  Easton;  94,  Hull;  95,  Sandwich;  96,  Falmouth;  97, 
South  Middleboro. 

HINCKLEY,  EDWARD  B.  1845,  Whittenton;  46.  Hebron;  47,  Salem;  48,  Westport 
Point;  49,  South  Somerset;  50,  East  Harwich;  51,  52,  Barnstable;  53,  Truro;  54, 
Monument;  55.  56,  Cochesett;  57,  South  Yarmouth;  58,  Falmouth;  59,  60,  Eastham; 
61,  Scituate;  62,  Hingham;  63-97,  s'te. 

HOLDEN,  CHARLES  W.  1879-81,  Colchester;  82-84,  Norwich.  East  Main-st. ;  85,  86, 
Thompscnville;  87-89,  Willimantic;  90-94,  New  Bedford,  County-st. ;  95-97,  Paw- 
tucket,  First  Ch. 

HOLLINGSHEAD,  JOSEPH.  1859,  Pittsburg  Conf.,  Sandville.  O. ;  60,  Hanover:  61, 
Malvern;  62,  63,  New  Somerset;  64,  65.  Bethel,  Ct.;  66-68,  Ligonier,  Pa.,  69-71, 
Bridgewater;  72,  Freedom;  73-75,  Pittsburg,  Walton  Chapel;  76-78,  Pittsburg,  Trin- 
ity Ch. ;  79.  80,  Connellsville,  Arch-st. ;  81,  82,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Providence,  Chest- 
nut-st.; 83-85,  Newport,  First  Ch.;  86-88,  Norwich,  Central  Ch.;.89,  Niantic;  90- 
92,  Thompsonville;  93-95,  Pasccag;  96,  97,  Edgartown. 

HOOD,  W.  LENOIR.  1885.  86,  South  and  East  Braintree;  87,  88,  Orleans;  89,  90,  Fair- 
haven;  91-93,  Cottage  City;  94-96,  Putnam;  97,  Pawtucket,  Thomson  Ch. 

HORTON,  LYMAN  G.  1884-86,  Brockton.  West  Ch. ;  87,  88,  Arnold's  Mills  and  Berk- 
ley; 89,  Arnold's  Mills;  90-94,  E.  Providence,  Haven  Ch.;  95,  96,  Central  Falls;  97, 
Willimantic. 

HUNT,  GEORGE  W.  1872,  Mashapaug;  73.  Eastford;  74,  Greene  and  W.  Green- 
wich; 75,  Glendale  and  Mapleville;  76,77.  South  Coventry;  78,  79,  Moosup;  80,  81, 
Provincetown,  Centenary  Ch.;  82,  83,  Middleboro;  84-86.  Taunton,  Central  Ch.; 
87,  88,  Providence,  Asbury  Memorial  Ch.;  89,  Maine  Conf.,  Gardiner;  90,  91,  N. 
E.  So.  Conf.,  Newport,  Thames  St.;  92—95,  Brockton,  South-st. ;  96,  97,  Attleboro. 

HYDE,  EDWARD  L.  1868-70.  South  Somerset;  71,  72.  Hanover;  73,  North  Bridfre- 
water,  West  Ch.;  74-76,  South  Abington;  77-79,  Middletown;  80-82,  Centreville 
and  Anthony;  83,  Fairhaven;  84-86,  Middleboro;  87,  88,  Taunton,  Grace  Ch.;  N9- 
97,  s'te. 

HYDE,  WILLIAM  P.  1865-67,  South  Somerset;  68-70,  Fall  River.  Third  Ch.;  71  73, 
Mystic  Bridge;  74-76,  Centreville;  77,  78,  Norwich  Town;  79,  80,  Westerly;  81  97, 
s'te. 

JAMES,  JOSEPH  H.  1855,  56,  N.  J.  Conf.,  Westfield;  57,  Crosswicks  Ct. ;  58.  59, 
Hightstown  and  Cranberry;  60,  Moorestown  61,  62,  Fairton;  63,  Har- 
risonville,  and  chaplain  in  army;  64-66,  Prov.  Conf.,  Fall  River,  First  Ch.;  67,  68, 
Warren;  69-71,  North  Bridgewater;  72,  73,  Provincetown,  Centre  Ch.;  74,  75,  Staf- 
ford Springs;  76-78,  Burnside;  79-81,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.;  82-84.  Danielson- 
yille;  8o-8<,  Rockville;  88-89,  Plymouth;  90-97,  Secretary  Connecticut  Temperance 
L/nion. 


246 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


JOHNSON,   JOHN   E.    1895,   96,    Brockton,  Pearl-st.;  97,   Niantic. 

JOHNSON,   OSCAR  E.    1891,  Fall   River,  North  Ch.;  92-94,  Osterville  and  Marston's 

Mills;  95,  97,  Whitman. 
JOHNSON,   SAMUEL  F.    1887,   Wilmington    Conf.,    Bishopville;    88,    E.    Ohio    Conf.. 

Stafford;  89,  Dexter  City;  90.  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Hingham;  91,  92,  No.  Rehoboth  and 

Chartley;    93-96,    Vineyard    Haven;    97,  Chatham. 

JONES,   EDWIN  F.     1862,  Georgetown,   Conn.;    63,    Canarsie,    L.    I.;    64,    East    New 

York;  65,  66,  Farmingdale;  67-70,   New  York   City   Missions;   71,    Prov.   Conf.,   No. 

Dighton;   72,   73,   Newport,   Thames-st.;  74,  75,   Putnam;  76,  77,   Pawtucket;  78,   79, 

Providence,    Broadway;   80,    Norwich,    Central  Ch.;   81,   82,    Bristol;   83,   84,   Taun- 

ton,   Grace   Ch. ;   85,   86,   Providence,    Harris-ave. ;    87,    Providence,    Cranston-st. ; 

88,   89,    s'y;   90,    91,    Providence,    Asbury  Memorial  Ch. ;  92,  93,  Warren;  94,  95,   Fall 

River,  Summerfleld  Ch. ;  96,  97,  s'y. 
KAUFMAN,    MATTHIAS  S.    1876,   111.   Conf.,   Havana;   77,   Minn.   Conf.,   Owatonna; 

80,  81,  Grand  Forks,  D.  T.;  82-85,  Fargo,  D.  T.;  86,  87,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Fall  River, 

Park   Ch.;    88-90,    New    Bedford,    Pleasant-st. ;   91,   92,   post-graduate   student;   93- 

97,   Providence,    Mathewson-st. 
KELLY,    WILLIAM    J.    1889,    E.    Maine  Conf.,  Round  Pond  and  Bristol;  90,  North 

Vassalboro;    91-93,    student;    94,    95,    N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Hope;  96,  97,  East  Braintree. 
KIDDER,   ALBERT  A.     1886,    Colorado  Conf.,  New  Mexico  Mission;  87,  Canon  City; 

88-91,   N.   E.    So.   Conf.,   E.   Weymouth;  92,    Provincetown,    Centenary    Ch. ;    93-94, 

Mystic  and  Noank;   95-97,   s'y. 
KING,   GEORGE  W.    1884,   North  Rehoboth;    85-87,     Centreville;    88-91,    Providence, 

Broadway   Ch. ;   92-96,    Taunton,    First  Ch.;   97,   post-graduate   student. 

KING,  JOHN  D.  1845,  North  Truro;  46,  Orleans;  47,  Pembroke;  48,  49.  Hopkinton, 
N.  H. ;  50-51,  North  West  Bridge  water:  52,  53,  Nantasket  and  Hull;  64,  55, 
East  Woodstock;  56,  57,  Thompsonville;  58,  59,  New  London;  60,  61,  North  Man- 
chester; 62,  63,  Pawtucket;  64-66,  Taunton,  First  Ch. ;  67-69,  Fall  River,  First  Ch.; 
70,  N.  E.  Conf.,  Newtonville:  71.  72.  s'y;  73,  74,  Vineyard  Haven;  75,  76,  Thomp- 
sonville; 77,  78,  Chatham;  79-81,  Edgartown;  82-83,  Somerset;  84-86,  Fall  River, 
Quarry-st. ;  87-90,  Edgartown;  91-93,  Woods  Holl;  94-97,  s'te. 

KINGSLEY,  AUGUSTUS  W.  1868-70,  South  Manchester;  71,  72,  s'y;  73-75,  Burn- 
side;  76-78,  Providence,  Hope-st. ;  79-81,  Middleboro;  82,  Burnside;  83-85,  Campello; 
86-89,  Pawtucket,  First  Ch.;  90-92,  Taunton,  Central  Ch.;  93,  94,  Norwich,  Cen- 
tral Ch. ;  95-97,  Bristol. 

KIRKBY,  WILLIAM.    1872-4,  Pascoag;  75,  76,  Hope  and  Scituate;  77,   Greenville;  78, 

79,  East  Hampton;  SO,  81,  North  Easton;  82,  83,  Voluntown  and  Griswold;  84,  85, 
Colchester;  86,   Attawaugan;   87,  88,    Warehouse  Point;  89,  90,  Wareham  and  East 
Wareham;   91,    Cataumet   and   Pocasset;  92,  So.  Harwich  and  Bethel;  93,  94,  Saga- 
more;  95-97,   Eastham. 

KIRKENDALL,   JAY.     1894-96,  Long  Plain;  97,  Marion. 

KUGLER,  WILLIAM  E.  1878,  79,  Cincinnati  Conf.,  Winchester;  80,  81,  Camp  Deni- 
son;  82,  St.  John's,  Cincinnati;  83,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Rockland;  84-86,  Westport 
Point;  87,  So.  Yarmouth;  88,  89,  Cottage  City;  90,  91,  No.  Dighton;  92-96,  Little 
Compton;  97,  New  Bedford,  Fourth-st. 

LAMSON,  GEORGE  H.  1871,  72,  Fall  River,  Brayton  Ch.;  73-75,  South  Somerset; 
76,  77,  South  Harwich;  78,  79,  Fall  River,  North  Ch.;  80,  81,  North  Dighton;  82, 
83,  West  Sandwich;  84,  85,  East  Hampton;  86,  87,  Voluntown  and  Griswold;  88, 
Greenville  and  Versailles;  89,  90,  Mystic;  91,  s'y;  92,  93,  So.  Coventry;  94-97,  s'te. 

LEAVITT,  DUDLEY  P.  1850,  N.  H.  Conf.,  Walpole;  51,  Chesterfield;  52,  53,  Little- 
ton; 54,  Whitefield  and  Bethlehem;  55,  56,  Nashua;  57,  Newport;  58,  East  Salis- 
bury; 59,  60,  Portsmouth;  61,  62,  Dover;  63-65,  Concord;  66,  P.  E.  Florida  Dist., 
South  Carolina  Mission  Conf.;  67,  Sanbornton  Bridge,  N.  H.;  68-70,  Prov.  Conf., 
Xew  Bedford,  County-st. ;  71-73,  Newport,  Marlboro-st. ;  74-76,  Providence,  Chest  - 
nut-st;  77-79,  Providence,  Trinity  Ch.;  80-82,  East  Weymouth;  83-85,  Willimantic; 
S6-90,  South  Manchester;  91-93,  Stoughton;  94-97,  s'y. 

LOOMIS,  FRANCIS  A.  1854,  Hingham;  55,  Yarmouthport;  56,  57,  South  Truro; 
58,  59,  Hingham;  60,  61,  Holmes  Hole;  62,  63,  South  Yarmouth;  64,  North  Easton; 
'15,  66,  South  Harwich;  67,  Eastham:  68,  Barnstable  and  Yarmouthport;  69,  s'y; 
70,  71,  Harwich;  72-74,  Long  Plain;  75-97,  s'te. 

LUCE,  WARREN  A.    1875.    Hanover;   76,  77,  Norwich,  Sachem-st. ;  78-80,  Uncasville; 

•SI.    Attawaugan;    82,    Fall    River,    First  Ch.;  83,  84,  Burnside;  85,  86,   Attleboro; 

S7-89,  Hazardville;  90,  91,   Newport.  First  Ch.;    92-95,    Fall    River,    First   Ch.;    96, 
Willimantic;  97,  Taunton,  First  Ch. 

LYON,  EDWARD  A.  1839,  Waltham;  40,  East  Weymouth;  41,  North  Easton;  42, 
Mansfield;  43,  44,  located;  45,  Barnstable;  46,  47,  Eastford;  48,  49,  Warehouse 
Point;  50,  Wapping;  51,  52,  West  Thompson;  53,  54,  Burrillville;  55,  56,  Centre- 
ville; 57,  58,  Newport,  Thames-st.;  59,  Somerset;  60,  North  Rehoboth;  61,  62, 
Falrhaven;  63-65,  Newport,  Thames-st.;  66,  67,  Woonsocket;  68,  New  Bedford, 
Allen-st. ;  69,  Mansfield  and  East  Mansfield;  70-72,  Acushnet;  73,  74,  Chatham; 
75,  76,  Fall  River,  Brayton  Ch. ;  77-79,  s'y;  80-85,  s'te;  86,  87,  Sagamore;  88-90, 
Berkeley;  91-97,  s'te. 

MARTIN,  HENRY  H.  1859-60,  Me.  Conf..  Wells;  61,  62,  Kittery;  63,  64,  Sandwich; 
65,  66,  Scarboro;  67,  68,  Prov.  Conf.,  Plymouth;  69,  70,  East  Bridgewater;  71,  72, 
South  Manchester;  73-75,  Rockville:  76,  Putnam;  77-79,  Fall  River,  Quarry-st.; 

80,  81,    Provincetown,    Centre    Ch.;    82-84,    North   Manchester;   85,   86,    Warehouse 
Point;   87,  88,   Portland;   89-93,   Attawaugan;   94,    95,    South   Coventry;    96,   97,    Mlll- 
ville. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  247 

MARTIN,   OLIVER  M.    1869,  Wyoming  Conf.,    Newport;    70-72,    Clark's    Green;    78, 

74,  New  Milford;  75,  76,  Union;  77-79,  Marathon;     80,     81,     Candor;     82,     St.     Louis 
Conf.,  Joplin;  83,  Lebanon;  84,  85,  Springfield,  Grace  Ch. ;  86,  87,  St.  Louis,  Trinity; 
88-92,  P.  E.,   St.   Louis  Dist. ;  93,   P.   E.  Farmington  Dist. ;   94,   95,   Lebanon;  96,   97, 
N.   E.   So.   Conf.,   Nantucket. 

MASSEY,  LUCIUS  H.  1881-83,  Holston  Conf.,  Jonesboro  and  Johnston  City;  84,  85, 
Athens;  86,  Ala.  Conf.,  Birmingham;  87-89,  student;  90,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  E.  and 
W.  Falmouth;  91,  Somerset;  92,  East  Bridgewater;  93,  94,  East  Thompson;  95, 
Norwich  Town  and  Baltic;  96,  So.  Coventry;  97,  Marshfield  and  West  Dux- 
bury. 

McBURNEY,  SAMUEL.  1866,  Kan.  Conf.,  Baldwin  City;  67,  Emporia;  68,  North 
Ohio  Conf.,  Plymouth;  69,  70,  Gallion:  71-73,  Mansfield;  74,  111.  Conf.,  Augusta; 

75,  76,    Tuscola;    77,    78,    Decatur;    79,    80,    N.    E.    So.    Conf.,    Hazardville;    81,    82, 
Willimantic;   83,   Wellfleet;   84-86,    Taunton,    First   Ch.;    87,    88,    Middleboro;    89-91, 
Provincetown,    Centenary    Ch. ;    92,    93,  Providence,    Asbury   Ch. ;   94-97,    s'y. 

McDONALD,  JAMES  H.  1890-91,  Nantasket;  92-94,  East  Weymouth;  95,  96,  New- 
port, Thames-st. ;  97,  Fall  River,  St.  Paul's. 

McINTYRE,  WALTER  S.  1876,  Maine  Conf.,  South  Standish  and  Buxton;  77, 
South  Standish  and  Hollis;  78,  South  Waterford;  79-81,  Bowdoinham;  82, 
Lewiston,  Hammond-st. ;  83,  84,  Waterville;  85-87,  Brunswick;  88-90,  Dewiston, 
Park-st.;  91-93,  Biddeford;  94-97,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Providence,  St.  Paul's. 

McVAY,  JOHN.  1882,  East  Falmouth;  83,  So.  Glastonbury;  84,  Versailles;  85,  86. 
Versailles  and  Baltic;  87-89,  Moosup;  90-92,  Manchester;  93-97,  Burnside. 

MELDEN,  CHARLES  M.  1882,  83,  New  England  Conf.,  Byfield;  84-86.  Lawrence. 
Parker-st. ;  87-89,  Northampton;  90-93,  Somerville,  Flint-st. ;  94-97,  N.  E.  So. 
Conf.,  Brockton,  Central  Ch. 

MILLER.  RENNETTS  C.  1892,  Barnsta.ble  and  Centerville,  Mass.;  93,  94,  Acush- 
net;  95,  Nantasket;  96,  Nantasket  and  Scituate;  97,  Nantasket. 

MOORE,  ROBERT  S.  1890,  Centreville  and  Yarmouthport;  91,  Falmouth;  92, 
Washington;  93,  Providence,  Mt.  Pleasant;  94-96,  North  Easton;  97,  Newport, 
Middletown  Ch. 

MORRIS,  J.  WALTER.  1881-83,  So.  Illinois  Conf.,  Metropolis  Ct.  and  Harrisburs : 
84-87,  student;  88,  89,  So.  California  Conf.,  Glendora;  90,  91,  Compton;  92,  93,  Paso 
Robles;  94,  Los  Angeles,  Pico  Heights;  95,  Principal  of  Ingo  Academy,  Bishop, 
Cal.;  96,  97,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Brockton,  Franklin  Ch. 

MORRISON,  WILLIAM  V.  1857,  58,  Millville;  59,  60  Middletown;  61,  North  Eas- 
ton Village;  62,  63,  Sandwich;  64,  Holmes  Hole;  65,  66,  Wellfleet;  67-69,  East  Wey- 
mouth; 70,  71,  Stafford  Springs;  72,  73,  Norwich,  Central  Oh.;  74-77,  P.  E.,  Fall 
River  Dist.;  78-80,  Bristol;  81,  82,  Providence,  Hope-st.;  83-86,  P.  E.,  New  Bed- 
ford Dist.;  87,  88,  Providence,  Harris-ave. ;  89-92,  s'y;  93,  Cottage  City;  94-97,  s'y. 

NEWELL,  ELMER  E.  1888,  Barnstable,  Centreville,  and  Yarmouthport;  89,  90, 
Sagamore;  91,  E.  Glastonbury;  92-96,  s'y;  97,  s'te. 

NEWELL,  WILBUR  C.  1884,  85,  Quarryville;  86-88,  Staffordville  and  Willington ; 
89,  91,  Putnam;  92-96,  Moodus  and  Had  dam  Neck;  97,  Uncasville. 

NEWLAND,  JOHN  H.  1886,  Des  Moines  Conf.,  Silver  City;  87-89,  student;  90-92, 
Pawtucket,  Thomson  Ch.;  93-96,  Plymouth;  97,  Central  Falls. 

NUTTING,  JAMES  H.  1870,  71,  Somerset;  72,  73,  Hingham;  74-76,  Moodus;  77,  78, 
North  Manchester;  79,  Portland;  80-82,  Fall  River,  Quarry-st.;  83-85,  Warren; 
86-88,  Woonsocket;  89-97,  chaplain  R.  I.  State  Institutions. 

OLDHAM,  JOHN.  1872,  South  Royalston,  Mass.;  73,  74,  East  Glastonbury;  75, 
South  Coventry;  76,  77,  Mansfield,  Emmanuel  Ch. ;  78-80,  Pascoag;  81,  North 
Manchester;  82-84,  Thompsonville;  85-86,  Danlelsonville;  87,  88,  Stoughton;  89- 
91,  Campello;  92-94,  Woonsocket;  95-96  East  Providence;  97,  Norwich,  No.  Maln- 
st.  and  Baltic. 

PATTERSON,  JOHN  N.  1884-86,  Chilmark;  87,  88,  Somerset;  89-92,  Cotuit  Port  and 
Cotuit;  93,  96,  Chatham;  97,  New  Bedford,  Ailen-st. 

PATTERSON,  SAMUEL  T.  1868,  Long  Plain;  69-71,  Middleboro;  72-74,  Little 
Compton;  75-77,  Central  Falls;  78,  s'y;  79-80,  Pawtucket,  Thomson  Ch.;  81-83, 
Pascoag;  84,  So.  Braintree;  85,  86,  Stoughton;  87,  88,  Pascoag;  89,  90,  Holbrook; 
91,  Mansfield,  Emmanuel  Ch.;  92,  s'y;  93,  Fall  River,  North  Ch.;  94-97,  s'y. 

PEARCE,  JOHN.  1886,  Mashapaug;  87-89,  South  Coventry  90,  91,  East  Hampton 
and  Marlboro;  92,  Minn.  Conf.,  Fulda;  93,  94,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Old  Mystic;  95,  9'5, 
Warehouse  Point;  97,  Attawaugan. 

PHILLIPS,    EDWIN   E.    1893,    Drownville     and     Riverside;     94,     Drownville  ;   95-97, 
Sagamore. 

PHRKANER,  EDWARD  P.  1886-88,  Millville;  89-91.  Warren;  92-94,  Moosup;  95-97. 
Manchester. 

PITNER,  JOHN  L.  1873-75,  Indiana  Conf.,  Bowling  Green;  76,  New  Lebanon;  77- 
79,  New  Albany,  Wesley  Chapel;  80,  Greencastle,  Locust-st.;  81,  Bloomington, 
College-ave. ;  82,  83,  Evansville,  Trinity  Ch. ;  84-86,  Minnesota  Conf.,  Minneapo- 
lis, Hennepin-ave. ;  87-89,  Illinois  Conf.,  Bloomington,  First  Ch.;  90-93,  St.  John's 
River  Conf.,  St.  Augustine,  Grace  Ch. ;  94,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Providence,  As- 
bury Ch.;  95-97,  Norwich,  Trinity  Ch. 

POVEY,  RICHARD.  1866-68,  Primitive  Methodist,  St.  Clair  Ot..  Penn.;  CD,  70, 
Brooklyn,  Ct.;  71,  72,  Prov.  Conf.,  North  Reboboth;  73,  74,  North  Grosvenordale; 
75,  Fall  River,  Quarry-st.;  76,  Norwich,  East  Main-st. ;  77-79,  Thompsonville;  80-S2, 
Rockville;  83-85,  Portland;  86-89,  Central  Falls,  Embury  Ch.;  90-92,  Attleborc; 
93,  94,  Provincetown,  Centre  Ch. ;  95-97,  New  London. 


248  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

PURDY     CHARLES  A.    1895,    North  Truro;  96,  So.  Middleboro;  97,   So.  Coventry. 

RANDALL  JOSHUA  O.  1889,  East  Ohio  Conf.,  Steubenville,  Finley  Ch.;  90,  91, 
Ashtabula,  Lake-st.  ;  92-94,  student;  95,  96,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Foxboro;  97,  Provi- 
dence, Broadway. 

RANSOM  MERRICK.  1866,  67,  Eastford;  68,  East  Woodstock;  69-71,  Hopeville; 
72  73  Staff  ordville;  74-76,  Middletown;  77-79,  Hockanum;  80,  South  and  East  Har- 
wich- 81  82  Nan  tucket;  83,  West  Dennis;  84-86,  North  Easton;  87-89,  Westport 
Point;  90,  Marshfi  eld  ;  91,  Marshfield  and  Scituate;  92,  93,  Hope;  94,  95,  Millville; 
96,  97,  Windsorville. 

RICH  JOSHUA  A.  L.  1870,  71,  East  Maine  Conf.,  Tremont;  72.  Union;  73,  74,  Clin- 
ton- 75  Brewer;  76-78,  Dover;  79,  80,  Orono;  81,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  East  Glaston- 
bury;  82-84,  Attleboro;  85,  86,  East  Weymouth;  87-89,  Newport,  First  Ch.  ;  90-94, 
Central  Falls;  95-97,  Providence,  Asbury  Ch. 

RIDGWAY,  HARTLEY  A.  1887-89,  Ha.nover;  90-91,  Brockton,  Franklin  Chapel; 
92-94,  Hill's  Grove;  95-97,  Fall  River,  Quarry-st. 

ROBINSON,  HENRY  D.  1859,  East  Abington;  60,  Cochesett;  61,  62,  Osterville;  63. 
64,  South  Harwich;  65,  66,  East  Weymouth;  67,  68,  Taunton,  Central  Ch.  ;  69, 
70,  Attleboro;  71,  Providence,  Broadway;  72,  73,  Phenix;  74-76,  North  Manchester; 
77-79,  South  Manchester;  80-81,  New  London;  82-85,  P.  E.,  Norwich  Dlst.  ;  86, 
87,  New  Bedford,  Pleasant-st.  ;  88-92,  Providence,  Hope-st.  ;  93,  Pawtucket, 
Thomson  Ch.;  94-96,  Warren;  97,  North  Easton. 

SARGENT,  FRANCIS  D.  1868,  Mich.  Conf.,  Empire  Ct.  ;  69,  Genesee  Conf.,  Brad- 
ford; 70,  Smithport;  71,  Otto;  72,  Western  N.  Y.  Conf.,  Belmont;  73,  Otto;  74, 
Belmont;  75,  Prov.  Conf.,  North  Grosvenordale;  76,  77,  Mapleville  and  Glen- 
dale;  78,  Myrickville;  79,  Fair  haven;  80,  81,  Nantasket  and  Hull;  82,  83,  Dlghton; 

84,  East  Weymouth,  Porter  Ch.;  85,  Scituate;    86,    North     Stoughton     and     Ran- 
dolph; 87,   South  Harwich;   88,   Mansfield,  First  Ch.;    89,    s'y,    North    Stoughton; 

90,  Bryantville     and    Silver   Lake;    91.  West  Duxbury;  92,  Marsh  field;  93,  s'y;  94, 
North  Tisbury;  95,  Scituate;  96,  Hebronville;  97,   s'y. 

SCHUH,  RICHARD  E.  1885,  86,  NewarkConf.,  Sergeantville  and  Kingwood  :  87, 
Rutherford;  Oct.,  1887,  Minn.  Conf.,  Waterville;  88,  89,  Excelsior  and  Eden 
Prairie;  90,  s'y,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Hull;  SI,  92,  Vineyard  Haven;  93,  student;  94, 
95,  Cottage  City;  96,  97,  Bourne. 

SCOTT,  ORANGE  W.  1867,  Maine  Conf.,  YoVk:  (8.  69.  South  Berwick,  70-72,  New 
fliuipsmte  Conf.,  Wesley  Ch..  Haverhill;  7;',  7-J,  New  Market;  75,  76,  Dover; 

77,  78,   First  Ch.,    Concord;    79,   80,    Wyoming    Conf.,    Kingston:    81-83,   West    Side 
Ch.,    Pittston;    84,    85.    Centenary    Ch.,  Binghamton;     85,     86,     N.    E.    So.      Conf., 
Principal     of     the     East     Greenwich   Academy;   87,  Newport.   Thames-st.  ;  SS-90, 
Rockville;  91,  92,  Norwich,  Central  Ch.;  93-95,      Willimantic;      96,      97,      Brooklyn, 
South-st. 

SHEFFIELD,  JOHN  F.  1848,  49,  South  Coventry;  50,  Woodstock;  51,  Plainrteld; 
52,  53,  East  Hartford;  54,  East  Haddam;  55,  Wapping;  56,  57,  Mystic;  5S.  59, 
Warehouse  Point;  60,  61,  Hazardville;  62,  North  Manchester;  63,  64,  Province- 
town,  Centenary  Ch.;  65,  West  Sandwich;  66,  Holmes  Hole;  67,  68,  East 
Bridgewater;  69-71,  East  Greenwich;  72,  73,  Providence,  Asbury  Ch.  ;  74.  75, 
Mystic  Bridge;  76,  77,  East  Hampton;  78,  Fall  River,  Terry-st.  ;  79,  80,  Dia- 
mond Hill;  81,  82,  Marshfield;  83,  North  Rehoboth  and  Lane's  Station;  84,  Mont- 
ville;  85-89,  s'y;  90-97,  s'te. 

SHERMAN,  JOHN  H.  1866,  Minn.  Conf.,  Princeton;  67,  68,  Howard  Lake;  69,  Silver 
Lake;  70,  Paynesville;  71,  Brockway;  72,  Canterbury,  Conn.;  73,  Prov.  Conf., 
Hopeville  and  Voluntown;  74,  75,  Voluntown;  76-78,  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville; 
79,  Millville  and  Waterford;  80-82,  Versailles  and  Baltic;  83,  East  Hampton;  84, 

85,  Tolland,   Lee  Ch.   and  Wesley   Chapel;  86,  87,  Quarryville;  88-97,  s'te. 
SIMON,  BENJAMIN  F.  1880-82,   East     Providence,    Haven    Ch.;    83;    Diamond    Hill; 

84,    85,    Fall    River,    Brayton    Ch.  :      86.Wareham;    87,    Versailles    and    Baltic;    88- 

91,  Portsmouth;    92-96,    New    Bedford,  Fourth-st.  ;    97,    Taunton,    Grace    Ch. 
SISSON,    GEORGE  A.   1891-92.    South   Braintree;    93,    94,    Fairhaven;    95,    Osterville 

and   Marston's  Mills;  96,   97,   North  Dighton. 
SMITH,    CHARLES.    1882-83,    Meth.    Prot.  Ch.,     Mianus,     Conf.;     84-86,     Bronxdale, 

N.  Y.;  87,  88,  Roxbury,  Conn.;  Oct.,  88,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,   Oneco;  89-91,  Berkley;  92, 

93,    Nantasket:   94,    Eastham;   95-97,    South  and   East   Harwich. 
SMITH,  C.  HARLEY.    1886,  87,  Dakota  Conf.,    Tyndall;    88,    Kimball;    89,    Plankin- 

ton;  90,  91,  student  at  Garrett  Biblical  Institute;    92-95,    Yankton;    96,    97,    N.    E. 

Southern    Conf.,    Phenix. 
SMITH,    ELIJAH    F.   1870,    Piermont,    N.  Y.;   71,  New  City,  N.  Y.;   72,   Prov.   Conf., 

Portsmouth;    73,    North   Rehoboth;   74,  75,    South    Glastonbury;    76.    77,    Wapping; 

78,  South    Coventry    and    Eagleville;  79,    Versailles;    80.    81,    Moodus;    82.      Fall 
River,   North    Main-st.  ;   83-84,    Mystic;  85,   North   Grosvenordale;   86,   87,    Norwich 
Town    and    Greenville;    88-90.    E.    Glastonbury;    91,    Oneco    and    Greene;    92,    93, 
Putnam;  94,    Nantasket;    95-97,    Mapleville  and  Glendale. 

Mansfield,      Bm- 
"Jridgewater; 
________  ,    ______  „    ____________    ____  ,    _-  _.,    __  unton.    Cen- 

tral Ch.;  90,  91,  Hazardville;  92-94,   Bristol;   95-97,    Westerly. 


,   F.    HENRY.  1892.    93,   Brockton,  Franklin  Ch.;  94-96,  Attawaugan;  97,  East 
j-lastonbury    and    Marlboro. 

STANLEY,  EDWIN  S.  1853.  54,  Cumberland:  55,  Monument  and  East  Mansfield; 
56,  Somers;  57,  58,  East  Glastonbury;  59,  60,  Mystic;  61,  62,  Fisherville;  63,  64, 
South  Manchester;  65,  East  Greenwich;  66,  s'y;  67,  68,  New  Bedford,  Fourth- 
st.;  69,  70,  Newport,  Marlboro-st.  ;  71,  Westerly;  72,  73,  s'y;  74,  75,  Art.  R,  I. 
Bible  Soc.;  76,  Washington  Village;  77-82,  s'te;  83-88,  s'y;  89-97,  s'te. 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


249 


STEARNS,  GEORGE  W.  1837,  West  Windsor,  South  Yarmouth,  Mass.;  38,  South- 
New  Market,  N.  H. ;  39,  40,  West  Chester;  41,  Haverhill;  42,  43,  Prov.  Conf., 
Barnstable;  44,  45,  Wellfleet;  46,  47,  West  Thompson;  48,  Thompsonville;  49,  50, 
Barnstable;  51,  52,  Holmes  Hole;  53,  Bristol;  54,  Wareham;  55-69,  s'y;  70-74, 
chaplain  New  Bedford  almshouse;  75,  New  Bedford,  County-st.;  76,  77,  s'y;  78- 
97,  s'te. 

STENHOUSE,  CHARLES  A.  1881,  Haddam  Neck;  82,  83,  Colchester  and  Salem; 
84-86,  Uncasville;  87-89,  Thompsonville;  90-92,  Provincetown,  Centre  Ch. ;  93-97, 
Taunton,  Central  Ch. 

STREETER,  FLORUS  L.  1892,  93,  Falmouth;  94,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.;  95,  96, 
Providence,  Edgewood;  97,  Providence,  Washington  Park. 

STUDLEY,  ELLIOTT  F.  1894,  Providence,  Edgewood;  95,  Wickford;  96,  Mansfield, 
Emmanuel  and  First  Ch.;  97,  Mansfield. 

TABER,  JAMES  M,  1886,  87,  Colchester:  88-90,  Norwich,  Sachem-st.;  91-93,  So. 
Manchester;  94-97,  Providence,  Trinity  Ch. 

TALBOT,  MICAH  J.  1844,  South  Somerset;  45,  Centreville  and  Phenix;  46,  47, 
Fairhaven;  48,  Duxbury;  49,  50,  Holmes  Hole;  51,  Sandwich;  52,  53,  Nantucket, 
Centre-st. ;  54,  Providence,  Mathewson-st. ;  55,  56,  Fall  River,  St.  Paul's;  57, 
58,  Newport,  Marlboro-st. ;  59-64,  Principal  Prov.  Conf.  Sem.;  64,  65,  Bristol;  66, 
67,  supt.  public  schools  of  Newport;  67,  supplied  Somerset;  68,  Pawtucket;  69, 
P.  E.  New  Bedford  Dist. ;  70-73,  P.  E.  Prov.  Dist. ;  74-76,  Warren;  77,  78,  Phenix; 
79-81,  P.  E.  Prov.  North  Dist.;  82-85.  P.  E.  Prov.  Dist.;  86,  s'y;  87-92,  Financial 
Agent  Preachers'  Aid  Society;  93-97,  s'y. 

TAYLOR,  WILLIAM  F.  1891,  East  Maine  Conf.,  Milo  and  Atkinson;  92-96,  stu- 
dent at  Bangor  Theological  Seminary  and  Boston  University;  97,  Cottage  City. 

THOMAS,  JAMES  S.  1854,  Baltimore  Conf.,  Woodstock,  Ct.;  55,  South  Branch, 
Ct. ;  56,  Front  Royal  Ct. ;  57,  North  Baltimore,  Ct.;  58,  59,  s'y.,  at  Concord 
Bib.  Inst. ;  60,  61,  N.  E.  Conf.,  South  Boston,  Dorchester  st. ;  62,  Charlton  City; 
63,  64,  Chicopee  Falls;  65,  66,  South  Wilbraham;  67,  68,  Prov.  Conf.,  Barnstable; 
69,  East  Hampton;  70,  Westerly;  71,  Putnam;  72,  North  Grosvenordale;  73,  74, 
s'y;  75-77,  Quarryville:  78,  79,  Eastford;  80,  81,  Gurleyville;  82,  83,  North  Easton; 
84-86,  South,  North  and  East  Harwich;  87,  88,  Bryantville  and  Silver  Lake;  89- 

92,  Marion;    93-95,    South    Middleboro;  96,   97,    Norwich   Town. 
THOMPSON,   GEORGE   O.    1885,   86,   Des  Moines    Conf.,    Pleasantville;    87-89,      Des 

Moines;  90,  91,  Hillsdale;  92,  Carson;  93,  94,  Neola;  95-97,  N.  E.  Southern  Conf.. 
Orleans. 

THOMPSON,  JAMBS  O.  1866,  Me.  Conf.,  South  Eliot;  67,  Richmond;  68-69,  Wood- 
ford's  Corner;  70,  Monmouth;  71.  Prov.  Conf.,  West  Dennis;  72,  73,  Vineyard 
Haven;  'H,  75,  Nantasket  and  Hull;  76,  Hingham,  Nantasket  and  Hull;  77,  Plym- 
outh; 78,  79,  Little  Compton;  80,  81,  Middletown;  82,  Edgartown;  83-97,  s'te. 

THOMPSON,  JOHN.  1881,  Long  Plain;  82,  West  Duxbury;  83-85,  Thomson  Ch.,. 
Pawtucket;  86,  Dighton;  87,  Wareham;  88,  89,  Jewett  City  and  Hopeville;  90- 

93,  Tolland,    Lee   Ch.   and   Wesley  Chapel;    94,    North    Rehoboth    and    Chartley; 

95,  96,   Marshfield  and  West   Duxbury;  97,    Westport  Point. 

THORNBLAD,   CHARLES  F.   1890-93,   N.  Y    East  Conf.,   Brooklyn,   Bethany  Swed- 
ish; 94-97,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Providence  Swedish. 

TIRRELL,  EBEN.  1872,  73,  Eastham;  74;  South  Harwich;  75,  76,  Vineyard  Haven; 
77,  78,  Sandwich;  79-81.  Fall  River,  North  Main  st.  and  South  Somerset;  82,  He- 
bronvllle  and  Dodgeville;  83-85,  South  Manchester;  86,  Willimantic;  87,  88, 
Niantic;  89-94,  P.  E.,  Norwich  Dist.;  95,  Providence,  Broadway;  96,  97,  New 
Bedford,  Pleasant-st. 

TREGASKIS,  JAMES.  1870,  71,  N.  Y.  East  Conf.,  Burlington;  72,  73,  Rockland; 
74-76,  Prov.  Conf.,  Jewett  City;  77,  Haddam  Neck;  78,  79,  Gurleyville;  80,  81, 
Staffordville  and  Willington;  82,  83,  Putnam;  84-86,  Somerset;  87,  Portsmouth; 
88,  89,  Fall  River,  Park  Ch. ;  90-92,  Uncasville;  93,  94,  Manchester;  95,  96,. 
Thompsonville;  97,  s'y. 

TURKINGTON,  WILLIAM.  1843,  44,  Falmouth;  45,  Chatham;  46,  Marston's  Mills; 
47,  Mansfield;  48,  49,  East  Woodstock;  50,  51,  Mystic;  52,  53,  Plainfield;  54,  East 
Hampton;  55,  56,  Greenville;  57,  58,  Willimantic;  59,  60,  Quarryville;  61,  62,  Mid- 
dletown; 63,  64,  Norwich  Town;  65-67,  Quarryville;  68,  69,  Moodus;  70-73,  JOast 
Hartford;  74,  75,  Staffordville;  76-78,  Gale's  Ferry;  79-81,  Windsorville;  82-84, 
Gale's  Ferry;  85,  s'y;  86-89,  Lyme;  90-94,  s'y;  95-97,  s'te. 

VAN  NATTER,   CHARLES  H.    1893,   94,    Scituate;  95,  East  Weymouth,  Porter  Ch.; 

96,  97,  Staffordville. 

VINTON,  PORTER  M.  1859,  New  England  Conf.,  So.  Royalston;  60,  Oakham ;  61, 
62,  Princeton;  63,  Sudbury;  64,  65,  Winthrop  ;  66,  67,  Weston;  68-70,  Hubbardston; 
71-73,  Hudson;  74-76,  Milford;  77,  78,  E.  Saugus;  79,  80,  Ipswich;  81-83,  No.  An- 
dover;  84-86,  Athol;  87-89,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Provincetown,  Centre  Ch.;  90-94, 
Pawtucket,  First  Ch.;  95-97,  Hazardville, 

WADSWORTH,  JULIAN  S.  1885-87,  E.  Weymouth,  Porter  Ch;  88,  89,  Centre- 
ville; 90,  s'y;  91-93,  Phenix;  94-97,  South  Manchester. 

WALTER,  CHARLES  H.  1876,  77,  Vt.  Conf.,  Walden  and  So.  Walden;  78,  Proc- 
torsville;  79-81,  Weston;  82-84,  Union  Village;  85-87,  Brownsville;  88-90,  Wards- 
boro;  91,  92,  N.  E.  So.  Conf.,  Truro;  93-95,  Wareham  and  East  Wareham;  96, 
South  Braintree;  97,  Warehouse  Point. 

WARD,  WILLIAM  I.  1878,  South  Carver;  79,  Falmouth  and  Woods  Holl;  80,  81, 
Bryantville;  82-84,  Vineyard  Haven;  85,  South  Somerset;  86,  87,  Providence, 
Hope-st.;  88,  89,  Newport,  Thames-st.;  90-93,  Niantic;  94,  Norwich,  East  Main- 
et. ;  95-97,  East  Weymouth. 


250 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 


SHBURN,  JAMES  B.  As  a  supply  under  P.  E.,  1847,  48,  Lynnfleld;  49,  50,  Or- 
eans;  51,  Osterville:  52,  53.  So.  Wellfleet;  54,  55,  Bryantville;  56.  57,  West  Sand- 
wich; 68.  59.  Monument:  60-62.  Truro;  63.  64,  Falmouth;  65,  66,  West  Duxbury; 


WASHBURN, 
leans; 
wich; 

68-70.  North  West  Bridge  water  and  No.  Easton;  71-73,  Marion;  74-76,  Myricks; 
77-79.  Bryantville;  80-82,  North  Tisbury;  83-85,  East  Mansfield;  86,  87,  North 
Tisbury;  88,  89.  East  Falmouth;  90,  no  appointment;  91-93,  Mansfield,  First  Ch. ; 
94-95,  as  Conference  Member,  Mansfield,  First  Ch.;  96,  Mansfield,  Emmanuel 
and  First  Chs. ;  97,  s'te. 

WHEDON,  DANIEL,  A.  1846,  N.  E.  Conf.,  South  Barre;  47,  48,  Oneida  Conf.,  Mor- 
rlsville;  49.  Fabius;  50,  Camillus;  51,  52,  Norwich;  53,  Earlville;  54-55,  Ithaca, 
Aurora-st. ;  56,  57,  Cazenovia;  58-61,  P.  E. ;  62,  63,  Auburn,  North-st. ;  64,  65,  Utica, 
Bleecker-st. ;  66,  67,  Prov.  Conf..  Newport,  Marlboro-st. ;  68,  69,  Bristol;  70-72, 
Edgartown;  73-75,  Providence.  Mathewson-st. ;  76,  77,  Providence,  Broadway; 
78-81,  P.  E.  Prov.  Dist. ;  82,  Newport,  First  Ch.;  83,  Providence,  Mathewson- 
st.,  nominal;  84,  Centreville;  85-97,  s'y. 

WILKINS,  RICHARD  M.  1877,  E.  Maine  Conf.,  Orland;  78,  Gouldsboro;  79-81,  Cut- 
ler; 82-84,  Lubec;  85,  Bucksport  Centre;  86,  Brewer;  87,  Pittsfield;  88,  89,  N.  E. 
So.  Conf.,  Acushnet;  90,  91,  So.  Harwich;  92,  93,  West  Dennis;  94-97,  Fall  River, 
Brayton  Ch. 

WILLIAMS,   EDWARD.    1874-75,   South   Carver;    76-78,    Mansfield,    First   Ch.;   79,    80, 
Pocasset;   81,   82,    South  Yarmouth;   83-85,   Acushnet;   86-88,    New   Bedford,    Allen- 
st. ;  89-97,  chaplain  New  Bedford  Port  Society. 
WILSON,   MELVILLE  B.    1889,   90,  Woods     Holl;     91,     92,     Sagamore;     93-96,     East 

Bridgewater;  97.  Little  Compton. 

WISE,  DANIEL.    1840,  41,  Ipswich,  Mas.s.;  42,    Lowell    (nom.    app't);   43,   Springrfleld; 
44,    located;   45,    46,    Nantucket;   47,    48,  Providence,   Power-st. ;  49,   50,   Fall   River, 
First  Ch.;   51,   52,    New   Bedford,    Elm-st.;    52-55,    Editor    Zion's      Herald;      56-72, 
Editor  S.  S.  Advocate,  and  Cor.  Sec.  of  S.  S.  Union;  73-93,  s'y;  94-97,  s'te. 
WOOD,  JAMES  A.    1891,  92,  South  Middleboro;  93-97,  Hockanum. 

WOODWARD,  WILLIAM  D.  1886,  East  Blackstone;  87-89,  Hope  Valley;  90-91, 
Rockland;  93,  Windsorville;  94,  Wickford;  95,  96,  Westport  Point;  97,  Catau- 
met  and  Pocasset. 

TATES,  WALTER  J.     1872-74,   Millville;  75,    76,    Providence,    St.    Paul's;    77-79,    Cen- 
treville; 80,  81,   East  Greenwich;  82-84,  Plymouth;  85,  86,  Taunton,  Grace  Ch. ;  87, 
88.   Chatham  and  East  Harwich;  89-91,  Fall   River,    First    Ch.;    92-94,    New   Lon- 
don; 95-97,  Rockville. 
YOUNG.     HERMAN.       1891-96,    Brockton,  Swedish   Ch. 

PROBATIONERS. 

GARDNER,    WALTER   A.     1897,    Voluntown  and  Griswold. 

GREER,   JEROME.     1896,    New   Bedford,  Cannonville  and  Rockdale;   97,   Dighton. 

MURKETT,  HERBERT  E.    1896,  97,  East  Blackstone. 

RAYNOR,   BENJAMIN  F.     1896,   97,    Gurleyville. 

ROOK,    SAMUEL   J.    1897,   Wapping. 

SCUDDER,  ARTHUR  H.     1897,   North  Truro. 

TAYLOR,  CHARLES  H.    1897,  New  Bedford,   Cannonville  and  Rockdale. 

WILKINSON,    WILLIAM  D.    1896,  97,   Truro. 

WILLIAMS,    CHARLES   H.     1897,    Hanover. 


DECEASED   MEMBERS   OF  OUR   CONFERENCE 

B.  L.  SAVER.                    W.  F.  FARKINGTON.  F.  GAVITT. 

(i845-'76)                                 (i829-'88)  (i836-'70 
The  dates  indicate  the  years  spent  in  the  ministry. 


E.  M.  DUNHAM 


REV.  E.  B.  HINCKLEY. 
(Superannuate. ) 


REV.  J.  O.  DODGE. 
(Supernumerary.) 


REV.  W.  H.  STETSON. 
(Deceased.      i8t2-'g7.) 


DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

G.  H.  WINCHESTER.  Z.  C.  HAYNES 

(1842— '85)  d842-'8i) 


FORMER    MEMBERS. 

IKAG.  BimvBi.i..  D.  D.  WHEDON 

(Deceased)  (Deceased) 


DISTINGUISHED  METHODIST   PREACHERS  FORMERLY   MEMBERS  OF  OUR  CONFERENCE. 

J.  BENSON  HAMILTON.  ANGELO  CANOI.I..  N.  T.  WHITAKER. 

(Deceased.^ 


GENERAL  INDEX  OF  VOLUMES  I.,  II.  AND  III. 

THE    CHURCHES. 


Acushnet I. 

Arnold's   Mills III. 

Attawaugan II. 

Attleboro III. 

Barnstable   I., 

Berkeley  (R.  I.) III., 

Berkley    (Mass.) I., 

Bourne    I., 

Bridge-water    I., 

Bristol  III., 

Brockton,   Central III., 

Brockton,    Franklin III.. 

Brockton,    Pearl   St III., 

Brockton,    South    St III., 

Brockton,    Swedis'h    III., 

Bryantville    I. , 

Burnside    II. 

Cataumet    I., 

Central   Falls   III.. 

Centreville    (Mass.) I., 

Centreville  (R.   I.) III., 

Chatham    I., 

Chartley  III., 

Chilmark    I.,   34, 

Chiltonville    I., 

Cochesett    III., 

Colchester    II., 

Cottage  City  I., 

Danielson    II., 

Dighton    I., 

Drownville III., 

East  Blackstone II., 

East    Falmouth I., 

East   Braintree III., 

East  Bridge-water   I., 

Eastford    II., 

East   Glastonbury II., 

East  Greenwich    III., 

Eastham     I. , 

East  Hartford    II., 

East   Hampton    II., 

East  Harwich   I.. 

East    Thompson II., 

East  Wareham I., 

East  Weymouth   III., 

East  Weymouth.    Porter   church. .  .III., 

East   "Woodstock II., 

Edgartown    I..  50, 

Fairhaven    I., 

Fall   River— Brayton I., 

Fall  River— First I., 

Fall  River— North I., 

Fall  River— Quarry  St I., 

Fall  River— St.   Paul's I., 

Fall  River— Summerfleld I., 

Falmouth    I., 


7  Foxboro   III 

5  Gale's  Ferry II. 

4  Gardner  Lake  II. 

9  Glendale  IL 

11  Greene  H. 

14  Gurleyville  II. 

23  Hanover  .  III. 


19  Hazardvillf   II. 

13  Hebronville   III. 

18  Hill's  Grove   III. 

25  Hingham    III. 

30  Hockanum    II.. 

33  Holbrook    III.. 

37  Hope    HI.. 

41  Hope  Valley III. 

16  Hopevale    II.. 

.   8  Hull    III.. 

25  Jewett   City II., 

42  Little    Compton I.. 

156  Long    Plain I.. 

45  Lynre    II., 

-  Manchester   IT.. 

48  Mansfield — Emmanuel  Church III.. 

271  Mansfield-First III.. 

163  Mapleville  IL, 

53  Marion   I. 

13  Marston's  Mills    I.. 

37  Marshfield    I-, 

1"  Mashapaug    IT-. 

40  Middleboro    I.. 

55  Millville    ..  TL. 


21  Mcodus   II- 

45  Moosu] i   II. 

55  Myricks    I-.   112. 

42  Mystic    H- 

23  Nantasket    TIL. 


26  Nantucket  L. 

59  New   Bedford— Allen  St L, 

4?  New  Badford — Carvnonville  (Howard). I. 

124  New  Bedford— County  St L, 

32  New  Bedford— Fourth  St L, 

186  New  Bedford— Pleasant  St I., 

36  New  Bedford— Portuguese I.. 

236  New  Bedford— Seamen's  BeWhel L. 

63  New  London    II- 

72  Newport— First    HI- 
SS Newport— Middletown    III.. 

271  Newport— Swedish    III., 

54  Newport— Thames    III.. 

59  Niantic    II • 

64  Noank    II- 

68  North  Dighton    I-. 

71  North  Easton   III., 

75  North  Grosvenor  Dale II. . 

80  North  Rehoboth   III., 

85  North   Stoughton III.. 


4 

,  41 
44 
,  69 
45 
,  47 
,  77 
,  50 
,  80 
,  82 
.  85 
119 
88 
91 
.  94 
15 

.  97 

.  54 

.  89 

92 

.  56 

.  60 

101 

200 

,  66 

.  94 

104 

,  97 

.  72 

107 

,  77 

.  79 

.  S2 

271 

.  86 

104 

114 

121 

,126 

127 

131 

135 

139 

125 

.  92 

112 

117 

124 

119 

.  99 

89 

141 

125 

102 

51 

215 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY 


253 


North    Tistoury    [.,  146 

North    Truro    I.,  148 

Norwich— North   Main   St II.,  105 

Norwich— Town    II.,  188 

Norwich— Trinity  II.,  Ill 

Orleans    I.,  150 

Old   Mystic    II.,  125 

Oneco    II.,  12!) 

Osterville    I.,  153 

Pascoag   II.,  131 

Fawtucket— First  III.,  129 

Pawtucket— Thompson    III.,  132 

Phenix    III.,  135 

Plymouth    I.,  159 

Pocasset    I.,  28 

Pontiac— Swedish    III.,  140 

Portland    II.,  135 

Portsmouth  III.,  141 

Provincetown — Centre    I.,  170 

Provinceto>wn — Centenary   I.,  166 

Providence — Asbury    III.,  147 

Providence — Broadway    III.,  150 

Providence — East   Providence III.,  162 

Providence— Hope  St III.,  166 

Providence— Chestnut  St lit..  154 

Providence — Cranston  St III.,  158 

Providence — Mathewson   St III.,  170 

Providence — Mt.    Pleasant III.,  178 

Providence— St.   Paul's III.,  181 

Providence— Swedish   III.,  199 

Providence,    Tabernacle, III.,  185 

Pro vidence— Trinity    III. ,  188 

Providence — Wanskuck   III.,  238 

Providence — Washington  Park  — III.,  191 

Putnam    II.,  140 

Quarryville    II.,  143 

Rockland— Central  III.,  193 

Rookland— Hatherly    III.,  196 

Rockville  II.,  146 

Sagamore    I.,  173 

Sandwich    I.,  176 

Scituate   III.,  202 

Somerset   I..  179 

South  Braintree   III.,  208 

South  Carver    I.,  182 

South  Coventry   II.,  150 

PICTURES  OF  PASTORS  AND  ACTIVE  MEMBERS   OF  CONFERENCE. 

Adams,    D.    W II.,   213    Bartholomew.  J.   I II.,   165 

Adams,    F.   B II.,   73    Bates,  G.  H II.. 

Ada.ms,  J.   Q II.,   207     Bass,    E.    C III.    1 

Alger,    N.    C III.,    33    Beale,    S.    M III.,   213 

Allen,    J.    H III.,    113     Bell,    J.    S I,    36 

Allen,    W.    H III.,    209     Benton,     S.     6 1.,    67 

Anderson.    F.   C I.,    180    Betts,   Jacob II.,  140 

Ashley,    D.    G II.,    57    Bigelow,  N.  D III.,  197 

Ayres,    E.   J IT.,   132    Biram,  Jas III.,  49 

Babcock,    E.    G III.,    15     Blake,    J.    E I.,    176 

Baker,    F.   C II.,  84    Blakeslee,  F.  D I..  XXII 

Baker,  J.  H II.,  36     Braley,    M.    T II.,    54 

Baker,  F.  K.... III.,  203    Bridgford,  J.  S III.,  168 


South    Glastonbury    II., 

South    Harwich    I., 

South  Manchester  II., 

South  Middleboro    I., 

South  Somerset   I., 

South   Truro I., 

South   Yarmouth    I., 

Sterling-    II., 

Stoughton    III., 

Square  Pond    II., 

Stafford  Springs II., 

Staff ordville   H. . 

Taunton — Central    I., 

Taunton — First   I. , 

Taunton — Grace   I. , 

Taunton— Tremont  St I. , 

Thompsonville    II., 

Tolland    II., 

Truro    I . . 

Uncasville    II., 

Vernon   II., 

Vineyard  Haven   I. , 

Voluntown  •. II., 

Wakefield    III., 

Wanskuck    

Wapping   II., 

Wareham    I., 

Warehouse   Point  II., 

Warren  III.. 

Washington    III. , 

Wellfleet    I., 

West  Abington   III., 

West    Diennis    I., 

West  Duxbury   I., 

Westerly     II., 

West  Falmouth  I., 

Westport  Point   I., 

West  Thompson   II., 

Whitman  I., 

Wickf ord    III., 

Willington    II. 

Willimantic      II., 

Windsorville   II., 

Woods  Holl   I.. 

Woonsocket    .  III., 


154 
184 
158 
189 
192 
198 
202 
215 
212 
170 
164 
173 
207 
213 
218 
222 
176 
206 
22 
180 
212 
228 
184 
217 
.220 
185 
231 
189 
221 
225 
238 
228 
243 
101 
193 
245 
247 
196 
250 
232 
74 
200 
203 
254 
235 


254  SOUVENIR  HISTORY. 

Brightman,  G.  E III.,  120    James,    J.    H I.,    262 

Bromley,   C.   B III.,   95    Johnson,  J.   E II.,   101 

Brooks,    F.   L I.,  239    Johnson,    O.    E I.,    251 

Brown,  H.  W III.,  222    Johnson,   S.   F I.,   SO 

Butler,  G.  H III.,  83    Jones,   E.   F I.,  188 

Butler,  W.   H III.,  98    Kaufman,    M.   S III.,    172 

Buck,   W.    P I.,   171    Kelly,  W.  J III.,  55 

Buckey,   J.    H III.,   45     Kingsley,  A.   W III.,  18 

Cady,  H.  B III.,  235     Klrkby.    William    I.,    48 

Ohase,   B.  A I.,  XV     Kugler,   W.    E I.,    132 

Clark,    E.    F I.,    160    Lockwood,  C.  A III.,  178 

Codding,    L.    B II.,    87    Luce,  W.  A I.,  214 

Coleman,    F.   W II.,   33    MacDonald,   J.   H I.,    76 

Cook,    N.    B I.,   43    Martin,  O.  M L,  115 

Cooper,  Joseph II.,  126    Massey,    L.    H I.,   98 

Cooper,    J.    F I.,    129    Mclntire.  W.  S III.,  182 

Coultas,  A.  J III.,  155    McVay,  Join  II.,   10 

Crabb.,  G.  W II.,  44    Melden.  C.  M III.,  26 

Critchlow,    H.    H I.,    8    Millar,   J.   W.    H L,   186 

Cummings,    S.    S I.,    261    Miller,    Rennetts    C III.,    106 

Curless,   H.   G I.,    246    Moore,    R.    S III.,    117 

Davis,  C.   S III.,  163    Morris,  J.  W III.,  31 

Davis,  W.  F III.,  186    Murkett,    PI.    E II.,    21 

Docking,    J.    T I.,    244    Newell,    TV.   C II.,   181 

Duxbury,   J.    E I.,   229    Newland,  J.   H III.,  42 

Dyson,  R.  D II.,  177    Nutting,    J.    H .....I.,    260 

Ela,    Walter II.,   19    Oldham,   John  II.,  106 

Eldredge,    E.    W I.,    193    Patterson,    J.    N L,    122 

Ellis,    S.   E I.,   55    Pearce,    John    II.,    6 

Elmer,   G.   W II.,  80    Phillips,    E.   E I.,   174 

Everett,   T.  J I.,  XLJI    Phreaner,    E.    P II.,   61 

Ewer,  C.  H III.,  232    Pitner,  J.   L II.,  HI 

Flocken,  L.  M I.,  81    Povey,    Richard    II.,    93 

Follansbee,  F.   J III.,  159    Purdy,   C.  A II.,   152 

Poster,   W.   S III.,  75    Randall.    J.    O III.,   151 

Fowler,  X.  McKee I.,  164    Ransom,   Merrick   II.,   204 

Fowles,    G.    M I.,   154    Raynor,    B.    F II.,   47 

Gammons,   J.  G III.,  6    Rich,  J.  A.  L III.,  147 

Gardner,   W.   A II.,   184    Richardson,   Joseph   II.,  23 

Geisler,  J.  N III.,  142    Ridgway,    H.   A L,    72 

Goodier,  E.  W II.,  136    Robinson,  H.  D III.,  126 

Grose,  R.   C I.,   14    Rook,  S.  J II.,   186 

Grant,    Geo.    A I.,    109    Ruoff,   C.   W I.,   146 

Greer,   Jerome    I.,    41    Rutter,  J.   O L,   17 

Gurney,    E.   B I.,   113    Sampson,   E.   J II.,    197 

Hambleton,  W.  J III.,  86    Schuh,  R.  E I.,   20 

Hamlen,    G.   M I.,   169    Sohuett,  R.  H I.,  87 

Hammond,  E.  S III.,  92    Scott,    O.   W III.,   38 

Harris,    E.    C I.,    166    Scudder,    A.   H L,    149 

Hastings,   G.    H II.,   103    Simon,    B.    F L,    220 

Hatch,    C.    T L,    233    Sisson,    G.    A I.,   142 

Hawkins,  J.  E III.,  218    Smith,  Charles  L,  185 

Hazzard,   Herbert   II.,   13    Smith,    C.    H III.,    137 

Heath,   W.  B III.,  51    Smith,  E.   F II.,   66 

Hinckley,   C.   N I.,    190    Smith,  J.  T.  C III.,  216 

Hollingsliead,    Joseph    I.,    51    Smith,   W.  J II.,  194 

Hood,  W.   Lenoir III.,  132    Spear,    F.    H II.,    29 

Horton,  L.  G II.,  201    Squires,    L.    E I.,    222 

House,  D.   C II.,  165    Stenhouse,  C.  A I.,  208 

Hunt,  E.  A L,   182    Streeter,  P.  L, III.,  193 

Hunt,  G.  W III.,  10    Studley,   E.    F III.,   102 


SOUVENIR  HISTORY.  2rr 

Taber,    J.    M HI.,    igg  Wads  worth,  J.   S II     i60 

Taylor,    C.   H I.,   126  Walter,   C.   H '"n"  190 

Taylor,    W.    F i.,    38  Ward,    W.    I '.'...        Ill'     65 

Terry,  O.  G II.,  144  Washburn,  J.  B HI     200 

Thomas,  J.   Elbert I.,  93  Wllkins,    R.    M i"    60 

Thomas,    J.    S II.,    108  Wilkinson,    W.    D .......I.'  225 

Thompson,   G.   O I.,    151  Williams,    C.    H V.'.IIL,    78 

Thompson,    John    I.,    249  Williams,    Edward I  "  125 

Thornblad,  C.  F III.,  199  Wilson,    M.    B '.     "  j      90 

Tregaskls,   James   I.,  188  Wood,  J.  A ......II.,' I2i 

Utter,    O.   L i.,    255  Woodward.    W.    D I      26 

Van  Natter,   C.   H II.,   174  Yates,   W.  J II   '  148 

Vlnton,    P.   M II.,   51  Young,    Herman    '.'ill.,   41 

PICTURES  OF  THE  SUPERANNUATE  AND  SUPERNUMERARY 
MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONFERENCE. 

Anderson,    G.   W i.,    5^  King,   J.   D I.,   53 

Banning,    Carlos    I.,    70  Lamson,  G.   H I.,  145 

Benton,    J.    T I..    70  Leavitt,    D.    P L,    70 

Bosworth,   B.   K I.,  70  Lyon,    E.    A .".i.|   53 

Bray,    W.    McK I.,   53  Morrison,    W.    V I.,    XVII 

Brown,   D.    L I.,    53  Newell,    E.   F .'..I.,  70 

Burn,    Richard   I.,  145  Patterson.    S.   T I.'   70 

Cady,  W.  O I.,  145  Sargent,    F.   D L,   145 

Chase,  S.   B I.,   53  Sheffield,   J.   F ...i',   53 

Conant,    H.    W I.,   145  Sherman,   J.   H L,   53 

Dodge,  J.  O L,  272  Stanley,  E.  S I.,  53 

Dunham,    L.    E I.,    53  Stearns,   G.  W L,  145 

Edson,    Edward    I.,    70  Talbot,   Rev.   M.  J.,  I.,  XII;   and   III.,   176 

Fox,    Samuel    I.,   70  Thompson,    J.    O I.,    145 

Hall,    A.   E I.,    145  Turkington,  William   I.',   145 

Hinckley,   E.   B I.,  272  Whedon,    D.  A L,   XXVII 

Hyde,  E.  L I.,  145  Wise,    Daniel    I.,    165 

Hyde,    W.    P I.,    70 

DECEASED   MEMBERS   OF   THE    CONFERENCE. 

Alderman,  M.  P I.,  XVI    Harlow.   W.    T L,    XI 

Alvord,   C.   M I.,   253    Hatfleld,    E.   H I.,   XVI 

Bates,   Lewis    L,  96    Haynes,    Z.    C III.,    251 

Bentley,  D.   N II.,  105    Howson.    John III.,    XVI 

Bentley,   L.   D I.,  XVI    Kenney.    P.    T I.,   XI 

Benton,   E I.,  XI    Leader,  S L,  253 

Blood,   L.  W L,  XI    Livesey,    John    I.,    XVI 

Benton,  Sanford  III.,  XII    Livesey.  Richard    I.,  XVI 

Bradford,  E.  B I.,  XVI    Livesey,    Wm I.,   XI 

Brewster,   G.    W I.,   XI    Mather,   James    I.,   XI 

Brown.   S.   C I.,   XI    McKeown,   S L,  XVI 

Chase,  B.  A I.,  XV    Morse,  C I.,  XV 

Coggeshall,    S.    W I.,    XVI    Morse,  Geo.  A L,  XVI 

Crandon,    P I.,    92    Palmer,    A I.,    XI 

Cooper,    John    I.,    272    Patten,   D L,   XI 

Daggett,    Levi    I.,    XI    Phelps,  B.  C I.,  XVI 

Dunham,    E.    M III.,   250    Puffer,  Stephen   III.,  110 

Ely,  Thos I.,  XI     Richards,    W.    H III.,    223 

Farrington,  W.   F III.,   250    Rogers,    D.   M I.,    272 

Fifleld,    Moses    III.,    48    Sayer,   B.    L III.,    250 

Gavitt,  Franklin III.,  250    Searles,    A.    N I.,    XVI 

Goodrich,    N I.,   XV    Seavey,    A.    W I.,    253 

Gurney,    T.    B I.,    253    Smith,  H.  S I.,  XVI 

Hall,    E.    D I.,   XVI     Stetson,    W.    H I.,    272 

Harlow,   Lemuel   I.,   272    Titus,    C.    H I.,    XI 


256  SOITENIR  HISTORY. 

Townsend,    P I.,   XI    Winchester,    Geo.    H III.,    251 

Upham,    Frederick    I.,    %    Wooding,  Geo.  W III.,  XVI 

Washburn.    I I.,    XV    Worcester,    J.    M I.,    272 

Webb,   Daniel   I.,   XVI 

PICTURES     OF    DISTINGUISHED     METHODIST       MINISTERS       FORMERLY 
MEMBERS    OF    OUR    CONFERENCE. 

Allyn,   R.    W III.,    252  McChesney,    Ensign    I.,   96 

Bates,    L.    B I.,    96  Nutter,    C.    S I.,    46 

Bidwell,   Ira  G III.,   251  Payne,    C.    H I.,   6 

Binney,    Amos    I.,    96  Pitblado,    C.    B L,   96 

Canoll,    Angelo    I..    272  Raymond,   B.   P I.,  6 

Chapman,  J.  A.  M I.,  46  Reed,    Geo.    E I.,    6 

Dorchester,    Daniel    I.,    6  Stevens,   Abel   I.,   165 

Gallagher,    C.    W I.,    46  Steele,  W.  F I.,  6 

Goodell,   C.   L L,  46  Taylor,    E.    M I.,    46 

•Gracey,    S.    L I.,    96  Taylor,    E.    T L,    96 

Hamilton,    J.    B I.,    272  Townsend,    L.    T I.,    6 

Hatfleld,   R.   M I.,    %  Trafton,   Mark   I.,  96 

Haynes,    E.    J I.,    46  Upham,    S.    F L,    6 

Hutchinson,    B.    W I.,    6  Wagner,    F.    J L,    6 

Jordan,    D.    A I.,    46  Whedon,   D.   D III.,   251 

Kimball,    II.    D I.,    46  Whitaker,    N.    T I.,    272 

McDonald,  William   I.,   46  Worth,    W.    T L,    46 

SPECIAL,    ARTICLES. 

Brockton  Methodist  Social  Union.. III.,   23  New  Bedford  Methodist  Social  Union. 

Conference  Endorsement  I.,  274       1.,    118 

Conference  Home   Missions I..    XXVII    Norwich   District  League II.,   216 

Conference   Resolutions,    (Conf.    Ed.)..  Nutting-,    J.    H.,    and    His   Work I.,    259 

II.,    XII    Pastoral    Record   II.,    236 

Cummings,   S.    S.,    and   His   Work.. I.,    261  Providence   Deaconess  Home — I.,  XXXI 

East  Greenwich  Academy I.,  XXI  Providence  District  Epworth  League.. 

Editor's  Introduction   I.,  IX  III.,   2 

Fall  River  Deaconess  Home — I.,  XXXV    Providence  Social  Union III.,  145 

Hamlen,    G.    M.,    and    His    Work  Statistical  Report  50  years  ago   (Conf. 

Historical    Sketch    of    Conference,    by  Ed.)    Ill,   XIII 

Dr.  M.  J.  Talbot I.,  XII  Superannuates    and     Supernumeraries 

Introduction   to  Vol.    II.,    by    Rev.    G.  Biographical   Sketches I.,   264 

H.    Bates    II.,    IX  Taunton    Methodist   Social  Union...!.,   204 

Introduction    to   Vol.    III.,    by    Dr.    E.  Willimantic  Camp  Meeting II.,  2 

C.   Bass  III.,   IX  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

James,    J.    H.,    and    His   Work I.,    261  1.,    257 

Martha's  Vineyard  Camp  Meeting.I., XVII  \Voman's    Home   Missionary    Society.. 

Martha's  Vineyard  Revival....!.,  XXXIX          I.,   XXIX 

SPECIAL    PICTURES. 

Bishops I-.    II  Martha's    Vineyard    Camp    Meeting- 
East  Greenwich   Academy   Cottage —  present    Auditorium I..    XXI 

Ill,    111  Map    of    Conference I,    I 

East  Greenwich   Academy  Faculty Nantasket    Beach III.,    109 

I.,    XXIII  Old  Oaken  Bucket III..   206 

East    Greenwich    Academy    Students..  Perkins,    Alba II.,    3 

I.,    XXVI  Presiding  Elders I.,   273 

Everett,   Mrs.   T.  J L,   XXIX  Presiding   Elders,    (deceased) I.,    XI 

Fall  River  Deaconesses I.,  XXXVII  Providence    Deaconesses I..    XXXII 

Fall  River  Deaconess  Home  —  I.,  XXXV  Providence    Deaconess    Home...!.,    XXXI 

Farnham,    J.    E.    C HI.,    145  Raymond,   R.    F I.    118 

Flint,  John  D I.,  XXXVI  Willimantic  Camp  Meeting,  Cartwright 

Gardner,    Mrs.    Harmony II.,    139          Avenue II.,    2 

Lippitt,    Norris  G III.,   XII  Willimantic    Camp    Meeting,    tent    on 

Local    Preachers I.,   263          Wesley   Circle II.,   3 

Local  Preacher,    Baker,   P.   M III.,   221  Yarmouth   Camp  Meeting,    Tabernacle 

Local  Preacher,   Fischer,   J.    E III.,  233  1.,    237 

Local  Preacher,  Keith,  W.  E II.,  161  Yarmouth   Camp   Meeting — Interior   of 

Local  Preacher,  Lincoln,    G.   W...IIL,   252          Tabernacle I.,    3 

Local  Preacher,  Messenger,  F.   M...II..104  Yarmouth      Camp      Meeting— Railroad 

Local   Preacher,    Thurston,    J.   F — I.,   174  Park I.,    217 

Martha's    Vineyard    Camp     Meeting—  Yarmouth      Camp     Meeting— Hanover 

50  years  ago L,  XVIII,   XIX,   XX  Square I.,   3 


Columbias 


Set  the  Pace  for  the 
World  in 

<Beauty,  Strength 
and  Speed. 


1897  MODELS 


HARTFORD  BICYCLES, 

$50,  $45,  $40. 

POPE  MFG.  CO., 

Hartford,  Conn. 

If  Columbias  are  not  properly  repre 


EAT5  TT1E  EART 


senled  in  your  vicinity,  let  us  know. 


Facts  vs.  Theories 


Were  it  practical  to  test  the  efficiency  of  the  different  Heaters  side 
by  side,  like  engines  at  a  fire,  the 

"WINTHROP"  HOT  WATER  HEATER 

would  need  no  further  advertising.  To  go  further  than  this  :  Could  the 
respective  coal  bills  resulting  from  a  six  months'  competition,  under 
exactly  the  same  conditions,  be  submitted  to  the  householders'  notice, 
there  would  be  another  advertisement  for  the  "  WINTHROP." 

A  FURNACE  FACT  is  something  that  is  actually  accomplished. 

A  FURNACE  THEORY  is  something  that  will  be  accomplished  \l 
the  experiment  is  successful. 


"Winthrop 


Hot 

Water 


Heaters 


are  built  on  facts.  What  the  purchaser  of  a  Heater  wants  is  heat — quick 
heat — -and  plenty  of  it — not  theories.  In  the  first  place  the  cost  of  install- 
ing the  service  is  reduced  to  a  minimum.  The  "  WINTHROP"  will  dis- 
charge hot  water  almost  immediately  because,  unlike  the  other  heaters,  it 
is  unnecessary  to  gradually  heat  the  entire  system.  When  once  under 
way  the  evenness  of  the  heat  is  governed  by  the  central  draft — this,  too, 
is  no  theory.  Then  there  are  the  return  flue,  the  vertical  circulation  and 
the  angle  of  exposure  to  the  fire — three  exclusive  features  of  the  "  WIN- 
THROP" which  are  beyond  the  point  of  experiment. 

If  we  were  to  tell  you  that  the  "WIXTHROP"  HOT  WATER 
HEATER  SHOULD  beat  your  house  of  five  or  six  rooms  comfortably  at 
less  cost  for  fuel  than  a  parlor  stove  requires  to  heat  two  rooms,  it  would 
be  a  theory.  We  do  more  than  that  and  say  that  it  WILL!  The  techni- 
cal points  wfhich  combine  to  produce  this  result  will  be  of  interest  to  you. 
Send  your  address  and  it  comes  free,  together  with  any  estimate  which 
you  may  call  for. 


DIGHTON  FURNACE  CO., 

NORTH  DIGHTON         OR        TAUNTON,  MASS. 


Put  Your 


Finger 


on   this   name 


GLENWOOD 

It  expresses  to  the  New  England  housewife  her  ideal  of  a 
kitchen  helper.     The  range  that     MakeS  Cooking  E 


ft 

$ 

ft 
ft 

i 

it 


Just  As  True 


of  the  heaters  as  with  the  range.  They  a 
the  standard  of  excellence  both  in  finish  ai 
construction.  So  strikingly  convenient  and  ea 
to  manage  that  bright  people  will  have  nothii 
else. 


Don't   buy   a   range   or   heater  till  you   see    th< 

GLENWOOD 


The  — 

Glenwood  agent 

in  your  town  has  them, 


or  write . 
Weir  Stove  Company, 
Taunton,  Mass. 


Whose  Piano  are  you  going  to  buy? 

BEFORE  DECIDING,  EXAMINE  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  PIANO. 


Kind  Words  for  the  NEW  ENGLAND  PIANO. 

WP 
From  MADAME  NORDICA, 

The  World-renowned  Cantatrice. 

Mf 

To  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  PIANO  Co.  : 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  tell  you  that 
during  my  stay  in  Boston  this  season  I 
have  enjoyed  the  use  of  one  of  your  semi- 
grand  Pianos,  which  I  consider  one  of  the 
best  for  accompanying  the  voice;  its  tone 
being  so  mellow  and  blending  perfectly 
•with  the  voice. 

Most  truly, 

LILLIAN  NORDICA. 


MADAME    NORDICA. 


OVER    75,OOO 

NEW  ENGLAND  PIANOS 

IN  DAILY  USE,  SHOWS  HOW  THEY  ARE  REGARDED  BY  THE  PURCHASING  PUBLIC. 


MYRON  W.  WHITNEY. 


Kind  Words  for  the  NEW  ENGLAND  PIANO. 

** 
From  MYRON  W.  WHITNEY, 

The  World's  Greatest  Basso. 
M» 

GARDINER,  ME.,  June  6,  1890. 

I  wish  to  express  my  admiration  for  the 
BABY  GRAND  NEW  ENGLAND  PIANO  which  we 
used  at  concert  last  night.  It  was  perfectly 
satisfactory,  both  in  tone  and  power.  I  wish 
you  much  success  with  them. 
Sincerely  yours, 

MYRON   W.  WHITNEY. 


Low  Prices.     Easy  Payments. 

TO    RENT    BY    DAY,   WEEK,    MONTH    OR   YEAR. 


NEW  ENGLAND  PIANO  CO. 

Boston  Warehouse,  601  Washington  Street. 


WE  are  just  about  entering  on  the  Sixtieth  year  of  our  business  career 
During  this  time,  over  17,000  of  our  Pianos  have  been  placed  in  the 
homes  of  the  very  best  musical  people  in  and  about  Boston.  These  Pianos  are 
endorsed  by  such  musicians  of  national  fame  as  JOHN  K.  PAINE,  CARL  ZERRAHN, 
T.  ADAMOWSKI,  Dr.  A.  P.  PEABODY,  and  Mrs.  MARTHA  DANA  SHEPARD.  They 
always  have  been  and  will  continue  to  be  honest  Pianos  at  honest  prices.  Our 
Factory  and  Warerooms  are  combined,  and  thus  we  are  enabled  to  offer  our 
goods  at  the  lowest  possible  cost.  Only  the  best  material  is  used  and  the 
most  skilled  workmen  employed.  Call  upon  us  for  further  information,  or 
write  us. 


A.  M.  HcPHAIL   PIANO   CO., 
786  Washington  Street,  opposite  Hollis, 


BOSTON.** 


CHENEY  BROTHERS, 


T*T-0 


I  c  1  1 

=  O  1  L^ 


MANUFACTURERS. 


NULLS: 


HARTFORD  and  SOUTH  MANCHESTER,  CONN. 


Salesrooms : 


NEW  YORK, 

477  Broome  Street. 


BOSTON, 


79  Chauncy  Street. 


CHICAGO, 


239  Fifth  Avenue. 


Pongees    and    Florentines:      Plain,    Figured    and    Printed,    for 
Dress  Goods  and  Decorative  purposes. 

Satins,  Twills  and   Armures:    Printed  and  Solid  Colors.    Black 
and  Colored  Gros  Grains  and  Taffetas. 

Velvets   and    Plushes. 

Upholstering  Materials,  Drapery  Fabrics  and  Curtains. 


GROS  GRAIN,  SATIN  AND  FANCY. 

Trams,  Organzines   and    Fine=Spun    Silks, 

FOR   MANUFACTURERS'  USE. 
SILKS  FOR  SPECIAL  PURPOSES  TO  ORDER. 


ESTABLISHED   1838. 


INCORPORATED   1854. 


TYPEWRITERS^ 


OF  ALL  MAKES  SOLD,  EXCHANGED,  AND  REPAIRED. 
TYPEWRITERS  RENTED  75  GENTS  PER  WEEK. 


D 


O  you  know  that  a  Typewriter  will 
save  you  time,  make  you  money,  and 
please  your  correspondents  ? 

TOWER'S  NEW  FRANKLIN  TYPEWRITER 

PRICE  $75.00 

is  a  first-class  Typewriter  at  reasonable 
price.  It  is  the  simplest,  lightest,  easiest 
running,  fastest,  and  most  durable  Type- 
writer made.  On  the  majority  of  other 
high-grade  machines  the  carriage  has  to  be 
lifted  before  the  work  can  be  seen.  On 
the  New  Franklin  the  work  is  in  sight 
from  the  time  the  first  letter  is  written 
until  the  paper  is  removed  from  the 
Typewriter. 

The  Editor  of  this  History  uses  the  Franklin  and  is  highly  pleased  with  it. 
For  illustrated  catalogue  and  full  particulars  write  to 

CUTTER  TOWER  CO., 

i2A  Milk  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

Established  1845. 


cif&n  tin  /sun 

HOISE-ST  VAI^UE, 


Embody  best  materials  and  construction,  and 

are  known  the  world  over  for  their 

HONEST  VALUE. 


H.  A,  LOZIER  &  CO,, 

CLEVELAND, 
OHIO. 

Send  for  Catalog. 


BRANCHES: 

New  York,  Philadelphia, 

Boston,  San  Francisco, 

Toronto,  London, 

Paris,  Hamburg. 


FACTORIES : 

Toledo,  Ohio, 
Thompson ville,  Conn., 

Westfleld,  Mass., 
Toronto  Junction,  Ontario. 


THE  PRUDENTIAL  INSURANCE  CO. 


INSURES  EVERY  MEMBER  OF  A  FAMILY, 

Issuing  policies  ranging  from  five  cents 
per  week  to  one  of  $50,000.00. 


Assets  nearly  $20,000,000.00. 


For  full  particulars  address 

C.  C.  FERRIS,  Supt.,  Jtjt  1371  Washington  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

THOSE  FAMOUS 

"BLYMYER"  BELLS. 


UNLIKE  OTHER  BELLS. 

RICHER,     SWEETER,      MORE    DURABLE, 
AND  LOWER  PRICED. 

Our  Free  Catalogue  tells  why. 


THE  CINCINNATI   BELL   FOUNDRY  CO. 

SOLE  MANUFACTURERS, 
CINCINNATI,       -       -       -       OHIO. 


F.  J.  BHRNHRD  S  CO, 


(The  Binders  of  this  book) 

SUCCESSORS  TO 

J.  G.  ROBERTS  &  CO., 

Established  1821. 


KBINBCRS 


For  over  135  Public  Libraries. 

Clergyman's  work  and  S.  S.  Libraries'  specialties. 
Also  Albums  manufactured  to  order. 

Old  books  restored  to  preserve  antique  appearance. 

A II  Kinds  of  Bindings. 

17  PROVINCE  ST.,  from  40  School,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

Freight   Elevator,  10  Chapman  Place. 


DESIGNERS  AND  MAKERS  OF 


Fine  Half-Tone  and  Zinc  Plates* 


SPECIAL  FACILITIES  FOR  MAKING 


CATALOGUE, 
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Estimates  cheerfully  furnished. 
PROMPT  ATTENTION  TO  OUT-OF-TOWN  ORDERS. 


From  the  "  Boston  Budget "  of  April  4,  J897, 

(The  Grand  Opera  Number.) 

(UNSOLICITED.) 


The  half-tone  work  of  this  issue  of 
the  BUDGET  was  largely  done  by  the  Amer- 
ican Engraving  Company, who  are  rapidly 
growing  into  favor  with  the  best  houses 
of  Boston  through  their  efficient  and  con- 
scientious work.  The  half-tones  which  are 
distributed  throughout  this  paper  to-day 
are  of  a  high  order,  and  reflect  unusual 
credit  upon  this  engraving  house. 


No.  295  Washington  Street, 

BOSTON,  MASS. 


Wanted:  Old  Books 

COMPLETE  LIBRARIES  OR  SMALL  LOTS 

We  make  a  business  of  buying  old  books,  bibles,  novels 
and  almanacs  —  or  new  books  which  you  may  have  read  and 
don't  care  to  keep.  We  have  the  largest  book  and  stationery 
house  in  this  section  and  would  be  pleased  to  serve  you. 

Our  Branch  Store  contains  over  25,000  books. 
HENRY   R.    JOHNSON,  Springfield,  Mass. 

«1DRESS  GOODStx> 

These  interest  every  lady,  and  our  Dress  Goods  stock  is 
most  complete.  We  make  a  specialty  of  "black  dress  goods 
and  can  give  you  special  values  for  your  money. 

Satisfaction  guaranteed  or  money  refunded. 

DAY1SON,  YORK  &  CO., 

750  MAIN  STREET,  WILLIMANTIC,  CONN. 


Ask  your  Stationer  for  goods 
manufactured  by 

EAST  HARTFORD  MFG.  CO. 


BURNSIDE,   CONN, 


Large  T 


H.   R.    WOODWARD, 


163  MAIN  STREET,  NORWICH,  CONN. 

Business  Established  in  1877. 

The  store  is  known  as  the  star  jewelry  store. 
Please  return  any  goods  not  proving  as  represented  as 
all  goods  are  warranted. 


A.  C  BEAL  &  CO. 


PRINTERS 


109  Purchase  St*t  Boston. 


Book  and  Magazine 


Composition 


Job  Printing 


We  make  a  specialty  of  Advertising  Pages. 


Work:  Riglit 


Prices   Rio-hit. 


-•SEND    FOR    ESTIMATES    ON    JOB    PRINTING.*- 


LECTURES  AND  ADDRESSES 

By  Rev.  Rennetts  C.  Miller, 

I.     Providential   America. 

A  Christian  patriotic  lecture. 

II*     The  Second  Emancipation. 

A   Gospel  temperance  lecture. 
ill*     Great  Life   Lessons  from  Columbus. 

An  address  for  young  people. 
JV»    Christian  Enthusiasm. 

An  address  for  Christians,  young  and  old. 

V.  A  Vision  of  the  20th  Century. 

A  lecture  of  general  interest  to  all  classes. 

VI.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. — Poet,  Novelist  and  Humorist 

A  literary  lecture. 

Mr.  Miller  enjoyed  a  long  interview  with  Dr.  Holmes  only  a  few  months 
before  his  death,  in  which  they  discussed  a  wide  range  of  subjects — literary, 
scientific,  and  theological — some  of  which  Holmes  is  almost  silent  upon  in  his 
writings.  Mr.  Miller  has  also  made  a  careful  study  of  Holmes'  life  and  writ 
Ings.  The  result  of  this  study  and  interview  are  set  forth  in  this  lecture. 

For  Daies  and  Terms  address 

Rev.   RENNETTS  C.  MILLER,    .*     Nantaskct,    Mass. 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  9482 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


